RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — It’s a busy weekend in North Carolina politics as both major parties shift their focus to November.
The Biden campaign has expanded well beyond its headquarters in Raleigh, adding new locations across the state.
Republicans, meanwhile, are hoping that ties to senior Trump campaign officials in North Carolina will help keep the state Republican.
At the NCGOP convention in Greensboro this weekend, former President Donald Trump brought his son Eric and North Carolina-born daughter-in-law Lara Trump onstage to tout his North Carolina ties as he addressed his supporters.
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North Carolina is a must-win state for Republicans as they are on the defensive in November to carry the state to Trump’s third victory and install Mark Robinson as governor.
The two-day NCGOP convention is also drawing national attention to the vice presidential election, with two of Trump’s running mates, Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, taking to the stage on Saturday.
It’s also an opportunity for new Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons to make his case to North Carolinians, including unaffiliated voters.
“We’re trying to get them to understand the choice between the Biden policies, which are very destructive, and an out-of-control economy and inflation,” Simons said.
Democrats, meanwhile, see an opportunity. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison visited North Carolina on Friday and said he sees the state as a key target for Biden to turn around his narrow loss in 2020 in a rematch.
“Do you want a president who will spend four years in the White House preaching nothing but bigotry, hatred and division, or do you want a president who wakes up every day thinking about how to make America work for all Americans?” Harrison told the crowd.
The Democrat is hoping to expand from its urban base in places like the Triangle and Charlotte into more rural areas, and opened a new office in Smithfield on Friday.
They believe North Carolina, a state won by Democrats, could be a hotbed of influence.
“When the results start coming in on election night, I want people to say, ‘Oh my goodness, what is going on in North Carolina?'” Harrison said.
The NCGOP convention in Greensboro continues Saturday, and President Trump is scheduled to visit Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
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