Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats are grappling with a steep uphill battle in North Carolina, where Republicans have savored consistent victories for over four decades, elbowing out Democratic aspirants except for an isolated victory by Barack Obama. Harris’s nomination as the Democratic candidate has created barely a dent in the perpetual Republican dominance as polling data from the state suggests. This sticks in stark contrast to Biden’s early campaign declarations of strong chances of taking North Carolina, where no Democrat has managed to seize victory since Obama’s 2008 win.
Facing a dip in polls and incapable of convincing the electorate, Biden quickly transitioned into a state of irrelevance, replaced by Harris as the Democrats’ front runner. Harris comes to North Carolina with the hope of changing the status quo, although her recent boost in popularity due to her candidacy seems to run on fumes in terms of delivering a victory that has evaded the Democrats for 16 years. Her visit entails outlining her economic policies, banking on inflating the Democrats’ flickers of optimism.
Political victories for the Democrats in North Carolina are rare spectacles, with the exception of Obama’s singular win. The state has traditionally leaned towards Republicans with Biden’s most recent foray ending in a defeat, albeit by a minimal two percentage point margin. Despite Harris’ nomination injecting some excitement and energizing the campaign, as well as the heightened race for the gubernatorial office, North Carolina still maintains critical views.
A particular boost for the democrats is the support of Gov. Roy Cooper, who is serving his second term. Cooper, who had the potential to be Harris’s running mate, remarked the enthusiastic atmosphere as being reminiscent of Obama’s first presidential run. According to Cooper, the age-related concerns of Biden and Trump are now being addressed squarely to Trump, given Harris’s younger age. However, it is essential to recognize the potential for biased comments and overblown assertions, especially in the field of politics.
The purported excitement is also echoed in the words of numerous other North Carolina leaders and strategists. But enthusiasm needs to be backed by the backing of voters, and quality surveys since Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket are limited. While the Cook Political Report found Harris neck-and-neck with Trump in North Carolina, his polling edge over Biden was greater in the state than elsewhere, revealing that her enthusiasm might not necessarily translate to votes.
Harris faces the socio-political hurdle of appealing to independent voters residing in North Carolina, who maintain that their economic conditions have deteriorated under Biden. Adding to their dissatisfaction is the handling of the Southern border situation under Biden’s watch. Paul Shumaker, a veteran Republican strategist, notes that Harris has to convince independents based solely on her promises, in contrast to Trump, who can rely on his records.
Indeed, Harris’s stance on economic policies and her approach toward the economy is likely to face intense scrutiny given the economy’s priority in voter sentiment. While the Trump team struggles to formulate effective strategies against Harris, they tie Biden’s economic record to hers. Their attempts to blame Harris for inflation and rising prices, in the capricious game of politics, should be taken with a pinch of salt.
While pundits argue about potential shifts in North Carolina’s political sphere, Trump’s allies refuse to budge, recalling past failed efforts by Democrats to flip it blue. It might look like Democrats are deploying significant resources once again, with a more comprehensive campaign operation in North Carolina compared to Trump. This is evidenced by the Harris team’s swelling ranks of offices and paid staff spread across the state.
Despite these efforts, the key remains with the citizens of North Carolina who continue to bear the brunt of years of ineffective policies. While Harris has sparked some interest in the state’s political dynamics, it is worth noting that the number of registered Democrats has only seen a nominal increase since Biden left the scene. Notwithstanding the optimistic proclamations by Democratic leaders, North Carolina’s political chance remains to be seen.
Yet on the other hand, one of North Carolina’s most watched races – the gubernatorial contest – has potential implications for the presidential race. Josh Stein, the state’s Democratic Attorney General, is competing against Mark Robinson, the state’s Republican Lieutenant Governor. Democrats have tried to link Robinson’s inappropriately inflammatory remarks to Trump, but these attempts may well backfire.
The Harris campaign’s statement that the views of candidates like Robinson will drive away potential voters may also result in unintended consequences. It seems that they’re expecting North Carolinians to reject conservative politics based on this premise. But such assumptions often underestimate the complexity of voter sentiments and ignore the potential for backlash.
Both Trump and Harris campaigns are seen heavily investing in television advertisements in North Carolina. But the disparity in ad spending, with Trump and his allies earmarking significantly more funds than the Harris campaign, might be a sign of robust competition rather than Republicans’ anxiety, as Gov. Cooper suggests.
While democrats bank on the so-called ‘Harris effect’ to boost their chances down the ballot, it has to be noted that this is based on optimism rather than on-ground realities. Jeff Jackson, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General of North Carolina, highlights this unanticipated excitement among voters after having to choose between what he terms ‘lesser evils’. However, time will reveal whether this excitement can translate into votes and end the Republican reign.
Kamala Harris’s Futile Attempt to Turn North Carolina Blue appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
