In the upcoming White House race, North Carolina is one of the battleground states that both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have their eyes on. With rural voters playing a crucial role in this election, both campaigns are working to overcome challenges such as voter indifference and fatigue. Face-to-face contact is being utilized in swing counties like Granville County to make their case to voters. Democrats are currently outspending Republicans in advertising in North Carolina, with a significant portion of the spending coming from the Raleigh-Durham area.
Despite the importance of the upcoming election, many Americans are not closely following news about the candidates. A Pew Research Center poll conducted in April found that around 4 in 10 Americans are not paying much attention to the election, with younger adults being less likely to follow election news. Additionally, about 6 in 10 adults in the poll expressed exhaustion from the constant coverage of the campaign and candidates, particularly those who are not closely following the news.
In a state with a high rural population, winning over rural voters is crucial for both Democrats and Republicans. While Democrats may not win outright in rural parts of North Carolina, keeping the margins close could give them an advantage in urban areas. Trump’s record with North Carolina’s rural counties shows that he had strong support in these areas in the 2020 election, with a significant number of rural counties backing him. However, there are some rural counties that could potentially be more competitive for Democrats.
One such county is Granville County, which had a tighter margin of victory for Trump in 2020 compared to previous elections. Previously considered a blue rural county, Granville County made a pivot from supporting Democrat Barack Obama to supporting Trump. This shift highlights the potential openings for Democrats in certain rural areas of North Carolina. As the campaigns continue to ramp up their efforts in North Carolina, these rural counties will likely play a key role in determining the outcome of the election.
