Donald Trump and Republican rival Nikki Haley may have dueling rallies planned for Saturday in North Carolina, but the former president’s appearance will provide an early window into his longer-term strategy beyond the state’s Super Tuesday primary.
Of all the states voting Tuesday, North Carolina stands out as the one most likely to remain a hotbed for political activity long after polls close next week. For Trump, already looking ahead to a potential rematch with President Joe Biden, it is likely to be the first of many visits here as he seeks a third consecutive win in this key battleground.
He will have stiff competition once again. North Carolina, which Trump narrowly won in 2020, is emerging as a critical piece of Biden’s reelection strategy. The president’s advisers view its 16 electoral votes as not only attainable, considering the state’s changing demographics, but also as something of an insurance policy, given challenges in Michigan and other battleground states.
“North Carolina is going to be very competitive for both sides, and no one will be able to take it for granted,” said Paul Shumaker, a veteran operative behind many of the GOP’s statewide victories in recent years. “It’s going to be in a constant state of flux.”
Leading into Super Tuesday, the weekend visits from the former president, Haley and Vice President Kamala Harris underscore the increasing importance of North Carolina on the electoral map.
“The president and I have been very intentional about the work that we are doing to invest in communities in many ways, including through small businesses,” Harris said Friday during a stop in Durham, her second visit to the state this year.
It has been 16 years since Barack Obama delivered a North Carolina surprise in 2008. That…
Read the full article here