North Carolina: Women voters hold the key in this swing states

It’s raining stars in Charlotte. In the last four days, first basketball match of home team Charlotte Hornets took place, former president Barack Obama campaigned for Kamala Harris and there was a Usher concert.

“The city is alive and buzzing, it can’t get any better. Good for business and a dash of politics always make things exciting,” says a 60 year old Gary Mac who is standing in a long queue to get through the seasons first NBA game. Mac is tight lipped about his ballot that he had cast on the opening day of early voting but says its going to be a close battle in North Carolina is considered swing for this election.

In the last six presidential elections since 2000 baring the exception of 2008 when Democrat Barack Obama won here, this Tar Heel State has always voted Republican irrespective of the outcome of presidential race going their way or not.

The 15 electoral collage votes the state carries become significant for both Harris and Trump. In the last two elections the margin of victory for Trump has reduced from 3.6% in 2016 against Hillary Clinton to 1.3% against Biden.

With a sizeable population of African Americans and Hispanic voters, the state’s democratic base has energised, and Harris campaign is picking up. The two major cities Capital Raleigh and Charlotte are going to be crucial for Harris’s fortune, Democrats gain from urban centres and if she can add to her tally here, she is in the game feel locals.

“Urban centres are her only chance, the sizeable population of African Americans, Hispanics and if she is able to add women voters to this tally she has a realistic chance. Else, it the state will yield results like it has over the years,” says Kevin Marshal a resident of Charlotte. A Trump supporter till last elections, January 6, 2020, event took him away from former president. “You got to act presidential, and he just didn’t do that,” says Kevin asserting why he shifted loyalties this time.

The most pressing issue in North Carolina is abortion rights, way over inflation and crime that are close second and third. “If the white women vote on this issue for Democrats, then it is a big issue for Trump. I gather last election he got over 50% votes from white women, if they shift from him to Kamala only on abortion rights. The balance will tilt Democrats,” says Chauney Ashton a schoolteacher.

That apart hurricane Helena, that devastated the state too will have its implications in outcome. There has been massive misinformation drive, relief work by Biden administration has been questioned adding to Harris campaign’s worries but it also has caused damaged in rural areas that have been Republican strong hold. For Harris to win she needs to add votes in urban areas and persuade women to vote for her, whereas for Trump key is to ensure that he holds on to rural voters & add some base in Urban areas.