Yes, I?ll admit it: I?ve become a big fan of ?American Idol.? And if, at a future press conference, you ask me multiple times to admit any mistakes I have made in this regard, I?ll just restate my desire to stay the course.

I?ve also become a huge fan of contestant Fantasia Barrino, who is clearly one of the two standouts in the current crop of contestants (the other being LaToya London). As a High Point native, Barrino is distinctive, charismatic, and a very talented performer ? not surprising given her family?s musical heritage and her participation in gospel performance from an early age.

Yes, it would be cool for a North Carolinian to win the competition two years in a row, but that?s not the reason I?m rooting for her. I happened to tape the show Wednesday night (it had been moved because of the president?s Tuesday press conference to be right against my taping time for ?N.C. Spin?) so I got a chance to watch her dazzling performance of Gershwin?s ?Summertime? twice. First of all, this is one of the great songs of the American songbook. Second, she did it masterfully.

Fantasia is, as one of the judges said, ?magical? ? sort of like the film of the same name. I may just borrow the Sorcerer?s spellbook and try to find an incantation to ensure her victory.