President Biden and former President Trump remain in the southern states, holding rallies to expand their influence. According to a report by Fox News on June 22, 2024, following their on-stage confrontation on Thursday evening in Atlanta, President Biden is scheduled to travel to North Carolina for a rally on Friday.
Battleground North Carolina
North Carolina, a state Biden narrowly lost to Trump in 2020, is crucial for the incumbent president’s campaign. While Biden campaigns in North Carolina, Trump will be rallying in Virginia, a state he lost by a significant margin in the previous election. Virginia has not voted Republican in a presidential race since George W. Bush’s re-election in 2004.
Competitive Race in Virginia
Recent polling indicates a competitive race. A Fox News poll conducted from June 1-4 shows both Biden and Trump with 48% support in a head-to-head matchup. In a multi-candidate race, Biden leads with 42%, followed by Trump at 41%, with other candidates like Robert K. Kennedy, Jill Stein, and Cornel West pulling smaller percentages.
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Political analyst Dave Richards from the University of Lynchburg commented on the tight race in Virginia, noting that “politics down here are confused and I think that’s being reflected in the polling, where there’s not a clear front-runner.”
Internal Surveys and Potential Running Mate
At a closed-door Republican National Committee retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump’s senior advisers highlighted internal surveys suggesting that both Minnesota and Virginia are competitive states for Trump. The survey emphasized Trump’s potential to flip key electoral votes. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia echoed this sentiment, stating that “Virginia looks like it’s in play and that’s pretty exciting.” Youngkin is expected to join Trump at the rally, fueling speculation about him being a potential running mate. Trump praised Youngkin in a recent interview, saying he is “great” and someone he “could consider” as a vice-presidential candidate.
Biden’s Focus on North Carolina
Biden’s campaign, on the other hand, is focusing heavily on North Carolina, where the president lost by a slim margin of 74,000 votes in 2020. Biden’s visit to Raleigh next week marks his fourth trip to the state this year. The state has seen a significant increase in new residents since the last election, which could benefit Biden.
Strategic Investments and Ground Operations
The president’s campaign has increased its presence in North Carolina, investing in ground operations and flooding the airwaves with advertisements. Michael Bitzer, chair of the politics department at Catawba College, noted the strategic importance of this investment, stating, “I think with the fact that only 75K votes differentiated between Trump and Biden, and the fact that registered Republicans have a higher turnout rate than registered Democrats, I think Biden’s campaign sees the opportunity.” However, Bitzer emphasized that this opportunity hinges on effective ground operations to ensure voter turnout.
Rallies as Pivotal Moments
Both Biden and Trump are leveraging these rallies to put each other on the defensive, aiming to shift the electoral map in their favor. The debate in Atlanta is just the beginning of a series of strategic moves by both campaigns as they seek to galvanize support in critical states.
High Stakes in Key States
As the race heats up, the rallies in North Carolina and Virginia will serve as pivotal moments for both candidates, potentially shaping the trajectory of the 2024 presidential election. The upcoming rallies and subsequent political maneuvers are crucial for both Biden and Trump as they aim to solidify their bases and attract undecided voters. The focus on North Carolina and Virginia highlights the significance of these states in the broader electoral strategy for both campaigns, showing the high stakes of the 2024 presidential race.
