{"id":2324864,"date":"2024-08-15T06:08:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T10:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-tries-to-put-trump-on-his-heels-in-swing-state-north-carolina-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-15T06:10:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T10:10:48","slug":"harris-tries-to-put-trump-on-his-heels-in-swing-state-north-carolina-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-tries-to-put-trump-on-his-heels-in-swing-state-north-carolina-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Harris tries to put Trump on his heels in swing state North Carolina &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fharris-tries-to-put-trump-on-his-heels-in-swing-state-north-carolina-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2324864&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Vice President Kamala Harris is making a concerted effort to gain traction in North Carolina, a state that has been historically challenging for Democrats since they last won it in 2008. Recent polls\u200b indicate a competitive race between Harris and former President Donald\u2064 Trump, with\u2063 both candidates showing narrow leads in various surveys. Harris&#8217;s \u2063campaign has been investing significantly in North Carolina, planning to open nearly 30 offices and making her eighth visit \u2064to the\u200c state soon to discuss economic policies.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans, however, dismiss these efforts as futile, citing past failures of Democrats\u200b to secure the state in previous\u2063 elections. They argue that\u2064 Trump\u2019s prior successes and \u200congoing support in North Carolina make it \u200bunlikely for Harris to win there. Nonetheless, Democrats believe \u2062that a closer race could force Trump to allocate more resources to \u200bthe state.<\/p>\n<p>Harris&#8217;s campaign \u200cstrategy includes focusing on urban areas to secure traditional\u200b Democratic votes, particularly from Black voters, while also appealing\u2062 to independents and disillusioned Republicans. While North Carolina \u2064is not a critical state for her path to electoral victory, her campaign&#8217;s engagement underscores broader strategies to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-would-lose-to-trump-if-he-replaced-biden-atop-democratic-ticket-new-poll-finds\/\" title=\"Newsom would lose to Trump if he replaced Biden atop Democratic ticket, new poll finds\">reclaim swing states<\/a> as the electoral landscape\u200d shifts in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Harris tries to put Trump on his heels in swing state North Carolina<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1730902\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Vice President Kamala Harris is giving Democrats hope they can pull off an upset in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>North Carolina<\/a>, a state that seemed out of reach just weeks ago with President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Joe Biden<\/a> leading the ticket.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have not won North Carolina since former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Barack Obama <\/a>took it by less than a percentage point, or 14,000 votes, in 2008. But polling shows Harris could be breaking through in the Tar Heel State.<\/p>\n<p>Trump maintains a 2 percentage-point lead over Harris, according to the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/president\/general\/2024\/north-carolina\/trump-vs-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>RealClearPolitics<\/a><\/em>  average, but the race is at present a toss-up. A <em>Cook Political Report<\/em> poll published on Wednesday, for instance, found Harris ahead by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/survey-research\/2024-swing-state-project\/fight-redefine-2024-race-president\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>same margin<\/a>, 46% to 44%.<\/p>\n<p>A source close to the Harris campaign said the team has been investing in North Carolina for a year, with almost 30 offices expected to be opened by the end of the week. Meanwhile, Harris herself will be making a trip to North Carolina on Friday, her eighth of the year, to deliver a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-pence-to-deliver-pro-life-address-as-supremes-mull-ms-case-tragedy-of-roe-is-unprecedented-in-the-history-of-mankind\/\" title=\"Exclusive-- Pence to Deliver Pro-Life Address as Supremes Mull MS Case: \u2018Tragedy\u2019 of Roe Is \u2018Unprecedented in the History of Mankind\u2019\">policy-focused address<\/a> on the economy.<\/p>\n<p>But Republicans say that Democrats are wasting their time in the state.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In 2016 and 2020, Democrats lit money on fire in&nbsp;North Carolina&nbsp;only to lose to President Trump,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-committee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Republican National Committee<\/a> spokeswoman Anna Kelly&nbsp;said in a statement. &ldquo;With President Trump&rsquo;s record of success in the state and two&nbsp;North&nbsp;Carolinians at the helm of the RNC, 2024 will be no different &mdash; Tar Heel State families have felt the strain of Kamala&rsquo;s failures and are ready to deliver for President Trump yet again.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A second RNC operative told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Republicans have expanded on their prior organizing efforts and suggested they will pursue a strategy in which they engage voters across the entire state, as opposed to Democrats who are &ldquo;afraid to even step foot outside of cities like Raleigh and Charlotte.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>North Carolina is not one of the must-win states for Harris. Her campaign is expected to invest more resources in battlegrounds including Pennsylvania and Michigan. But the focus reflects the ways in which the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/electoral-college\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">electoral map<\/a> has expanded since Biden bowed out of the presidential race.<\/p>\n<p>The president kept former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Donald Trump<\/a> to his smallest margin of victory in 2020 but was trailing him by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/president\/general\/2024\/north-carolina\/trump-vs-biden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>around 5 points<\/a> when he endorsed Harris to replace him.<\/p>\n<p>A closer race between Harris and Trump in North Carolina could put pressure on the former president to spend more time and money there than he would have with Biden. On Wednesday, Trump made his fourth trip to North Carolina to prebut Harris&rsquo;s economic policy address.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;While [Trump] has barely any organization and shares a ballot with MAGA extremists like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-robinson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Mark Robinson<\/a>, we have built a campaign to win close races,&rdquo; Dory MacMillan, a state spokeswoman for Harris, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, referring to the Republican nominee for governor.<\/p>\n<p>She accused Trump of &ldquo;scrambling&rdquo; in North Carolina because his &ldquo;toxic&rdquo; agenda to &ldquo;restrict our freedoms, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/economy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>kill our jobs<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/inflation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>raise costs<\/a> on our families doesn&rsquo;t play well here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Harris&rsquo;s easiest path to 270 electoral votes is through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Arizona<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Michigan<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Pennsylvania<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Wisconsin<\/a>. But Daron&nbsp;Shaw, a professor of government at the University of Texas, Austin, judged that her electoral map could depend on either performing well in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/never-trumpers-fan-out-to-bolster-bidens-blue-wall\/\" title=\"Anti-Trump supporters spread out to strengthen Biden&#039;s Democratic stronghold\">blue wall states<\/a>, the Atlantic South, or the Mountain West.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The blue wall strategy requires Harris to run up the numbers in the main cities, Philly, Detroit, Milwaukee, to hold some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/labor-unions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>union members<\/a>&ndash;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/working-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>working class<\/a> whites, and to recover support among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/african-americans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>blacks<\/a>,&rdquo; Shaw told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;The Atlantic South path requires a single win in the blue wall states, Pennsylvania, and then registering and dominating among black voters, as well as suburban women in Atlanta, Charlotte, etc. The Mountain West strategy requires her to win two of three in the blue wall states, and then to recover lost ground with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/latinos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Latinos<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/youth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>younger<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/higher-education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>educated voters<\/a> in Arizona and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nevada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Nevada<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>To that end, Charles Bierbauer, dean emeritus of the University of South Carolina College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, said Harris&rsquo;s choice of Raleigh for her Friday speech was strategic.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle trends blue,&rdquo; Bierbauer, who now lives in North Carolina, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;It makes some sense for her to go there. To win North Carolina, she needs to rally the traditional Democratic vote, ensure she gets as much of the black vote as possible, and persuade the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/independents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>independents<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/never-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>never-Trumper<\/a> Republicans that she is their best answer.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats are hoping North Carolina&rsquo;s gubernatorial race to replace term-limited Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) will help Harris with that last part as the party tries to portray Robinson as Trump-esque. Robinson vehemently denies claims he is &ldquo;extreme&rdquo; as Democrats emphasize controversial statements he has made in the past.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pope &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCorkle, a former Democratic consultant and Duke University public policy practice professor, described Robinson&rsquo;s campaign as being &ldquo;in deep, deep trouble&rdquo; but he said the political repercussions for Harris and Trump are unknown since anti-Trump Republicans could vote for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/third-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>third-party<\/a> candidates.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My gut is, yes, [North Carolina is] in reach, but probably something else has to happen, like Harris beating Trump clearly in the debate,&rdquo; McCorkle told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Harris has recovered the loss that Biden suffered from the age issue basically. Now, can she turn this into kind of an Obama-like coalition with really big turnout from young people and women and African Americans and minorities? Maybe. But we&rsquo;re yet to see the Obama coalition. &hellip; Democrats in this race against Trump are underdogs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1730902\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1730902\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vice President Kamala Harris is instilling optimism among Democrats for a potential upset in North Carolina, a state that appeared unattainable just weeks ago with President Joe Biden at the forefront. The last time Democrats secured North Carolina was in 2008 when Barack Obama won by a narrow margin of less than one percentage point, or about 14,000 votes. Current polling indicates that Harris may be gaining traction in the Tar Heel State. Although Trump holds a slight 2-point lead over Harris according to RealClearPolitics averages, the race is currently considered competitive. A recent Cook Political Report poll showed Harris leading by the same margin of 46% to 44%. A source close to her campaign revealed that they have been focusing on North Carolina for a year and plan to open nearly 30 offices there by week\u2019s end. Additionally, Harris will visit North Carolina on Friday for her eighth trip this year to deliver an address centered on economic policy.<\/p>\n<p>However, Republicans argue that Democrats are misallocating their efforts in the state. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that past Democratic investments in North Carolina during the 2016 and 2020 elections yielded no victories against Trump. She emphasized Trump&#8217;s successful record in the state and predicted similar outcomes for the upcoming election as families feel burdened by what she termed &#8220;Kamala&#8217;s failures.&#8221; Another RNC operative noted that Republicans have enhanced their organizing strategies across North Carolina while suggesting Democrats are hesitant to engage outside major cities like Raleigh and Charlotte.<\/p>\n<p>While winning North Carolina isn&#8217;t essential for Harris&#8217;s campaign\u2014where more resources are likely directed toward battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Michigan\u2014the focus reflects changes since Biden exited the presidential race. Despite Biden keeping Trump&#8217;s victory margin slim in 2020, he trailed Trump by about five points when he endorsed Harris as his successor.<\/p>\n<p>A tighter contest between Harris and Trump could compel Trump to invest more time and resources into campaigning there than he would have had Biden remained as candidate. On Wednesday, Trump made his fourth visit to North Carolina ahead of Harris\u2019s economic address.<\/p>\n<p>Dory MacMillan from Harris&#8217;s team asserted they have built an effective campaign strategy while criticizing Trump&#8217;s agenda as detrimental to voters&#8217; interests in North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Harris\u2019s most viable route toward securing enough electoral votes involves states like Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; however, political analyst Daron Shaw suggested her success might hinge on strong performances either within traditional Democratic strongholds or regions such as Atlantic South or Mountain West states.<\/p>\n<p>To bolster her chances in these areas\u2014especially among key demographics\u2014Harris has strategically chosen Raleigh for her speech due its blue-leaning tendencies according to Charles Bierbauer from USC\u2019s College of Mass Communications.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats also hope that ongoing gubernatorial races will aid their efforts; they aim to frame Republican nominee Mark Robinson as too extreme while Robinson disputes these claims vehemently.<\/p>\n<p>Political consultant Pope \u201cMac\u201d McCorkle expressed uncertainty regarding how anti-Trump sentiments might influence voter behavior but acknowledged potential pathways exist if circumstances align favorably\u2014for instance if debates showcase clear advantages for Harris over Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2652,"featured_media":2324865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Kamala_Harris_7762_1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4021,32258,25081,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2324864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-harris","tag-north-carolina","tag-swing-state","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Kamala_Harris_7762_1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2324864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2324864\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2324865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2324864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2324864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2324864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}