In Atlanta, at Ebenezer Baptist Church — where King preached from 1960 until his death in 1968 — the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock accused GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich of using racial stereotypes to fire up Republican voters. On the campaign trail, Gingrich has referred to Obama as "the food stamp president" and earlier this month, he suggested that African-Americans seek paychecks rather than public assistance. Warnock called Gingrich's comments "sickening and insulting."

"They'd say in one loud voice, go vote in 2012! Vote like you never voted before! And they'd say there's only one person to vote for, and his name is President Barack Obama! Run and don't get weary ... all the way to the polls."

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, an Obama surrogate, also tied the president's re-election campaign to an extension of the civil rights movement. He said it was time to get to work and dream again.