On Sunday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper predicted that if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the state of North Carolina in the upcoming general election, she would become the next President of the United States.
During an interview with CBS News’s Margaret Brennan, Cooper expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to appeal to North Carolina voters, highlighting her frequent visits to the state as evidence of her commitment.
Cooper stressed that North Carolina is a pivotal battleground state, given its narrow margin in the 2020 election where Harris and President Biden lost by just 1.3 percent. He pointed out that Harris’s numerous visits—17 in total—demonstrate her strategic focus on the state.
Cooper believes that winning North Carolina is essential for Harris, as it would significantly diminish former President Donald Trump’s chances of securing the presidency.
Governor Cooper Predicts Kamala Harris Could Win Presidency by Taking North Carolina in 2024 Election
Historically, North Carolina has been a tough state for Democrats, having supported a Democrat only once since 1980, in 2008. In the 2020 election, Trump narrowly won the state’s 15 electoral votes by fewer than 100,000 votes. However, recent analysis from the Cook Political Report has shifted North Carolina’s classification from “lean Republican” to “toss up,” indicating a more competitive environment.
Current polling data shows Trump with a slight edge over Harris in North Carolina, with a lead of just 0.3 percentage points. Trump holds 48.6 percent of the vote compared to Harris’s 48.3 percent. This close margin highlights the importance of North Carolina in the electoral race for both candidates.
Cooper, who was once considered a possible vice-presidential candidate himself, is optimistic about Harris’s prospects. He believes that as voters in North Carolina learn more about Harris’s economic plan, which focuses on lowering costs and supporting the middle class, as well as her stance on reproductive rights, her support in the state will grow. Cooper argues that these key issues will resonate with voters and could ultimately lead to a win for Harris in North Carolina.
