Democrats Battle for Power in Historically Republican North Carolina

[davidnc76]

Could traditionally red North Carolina be a swing state this election year? Democrats hope so.

Washington, D.C. - Scripps Howard Foundation Wire - infoZine - Democratic campaign strategy is turning North Carolina into a battleground for the first time in more than 30 years. Instead of writing it off as a shoe-in Republican victory, Democratic Barack Obama's campaign is making a concerted effort to win the state - pouring more than $2 million into television ads there, according to Marc Farinella, state campaign director.

"It's not such a big stretch to see Barack Obama win North Carolina," Farinella said in a press conference call Wednesday. "It is clearly a competitive state this year, and we can win here."

The last Democratic candidate to win North Carolina was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Recent polls, however, have revealed consistent single-digit margins between Obama and Republican John McCain. McCain leads by four points, according to a Survey USA poll released Tuesday, but that's barely outside the poll's 3.9 percentage point margin of error.

"If Obama wins, it's a huge upset," said Mike Cobb, associate professor of political science at North Carolina State University. "I don't think they're counting on it. I don't think they're expecting it. I think what in part is happening is that they are forcing McCain to spend time and resources in states where he otherwise wasn't expecting to do so."


More:

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/30015/

[dsc]

1. North Carolina was a battle ground in 92

sure we lost it, but it was close and contested until the end.

[unc70]

2. A "shoe-in" must be a kick in the ... (Should be "shoo-in")

I doubt Obama can win NC in any scenario where its electors would be essential for gaining the required 270. If he actually wins here, he is winning almost everywhere else, too. Unfortunately, NC voters have a history of being swayed by the RW attack ads going back well over 100 years; I have learned not to get my hopes up unrealistically.

I now feel a bit more optimistic about our state-wide races than I did 4-6 weeks ago. The extra resources Obama is putting in NC could help these other races. The down-side risk would be if the RW attacks on Obama started resonating with voters here, and if that were then to spill over to these other contests.

[left of center]

3. we're not there yet

North Carolina's cities have more growing to do before this state becomes truely competitive in presidential elections. What often underlies the red state-blue state dichotomy is a rural-urban one. Just look at how Northern Virginia has changed that state's political landscape over the years.

It would be nice to see the race tighten though- and nicer still to make Republicans sweat on election night!

[barbtries]

4. i really believe we can win NC

if i didn't, i'd get depressed. really a lot

[NorthCarolina]

5. I am "hopeful" that this election will close the book on Sue Myrick in Dist. 9

I haven't been able to find any polling to indicate how Harry Taylor, her Dem. challenger, is faring against her...but I can dream.

[Mudoria]

6. I think it's going to be close and I don't know which way it will

go to be honest. I can see Dole being defeated unless she and the GOP pour an ungodly amount of money into NC (which I don't think they have). Hagan has run a solid campaign so far, she just has to keep this going for another 7-8 weeks and I think she has it. As for the Governors race, I hate to admit it but I'm more than likely voting for Pat McCrory. I've always liked his management style as Mayor of Charlotte. He seems like an extremely moderate Republican with a level head on his shoulders. Purdue, she kind of lost me with the nasty ads she ran almost from the start not to mention she hasn't done well in the debates with McCrory I've seen.