barack_obama_34.jpgCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ President Barack Obama is making his first visit to North Carolina's largest city since accepting his party's re-election nomination there last September at the Democratic National Convention.

The White House announced Obama will be in Charlotte this coming Thursday on the latest stop of his "Middle-Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour.'' He's already made tour stops in Austin, Tex., and Baltimore.

Obama said in Baltimore two weeks ago the tour is designed to highlight ways to reignite economic growth that he discussed in his State of the Union address.

North Carolina has 8.9 percent unemployment, one of the highest rates in the country.

More details about the Charlotte visit are expected later.