Democrats Haven't Won North Carolina Since 2008. Can Biden?
4Digest
This episode of the NPR Politics Podcast focuses on the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the Democrats' hopes for a blue North Carolina. The episode discusses the changing demographics of the state, the importance of black voters, and the challenges the Biden campaign faces in mobilizing them. The episode also highlights the importance of the gubernatorial race in North Carolina, with the Republican candidate, Mark Robinson, being seen as a potential up-ballot help for Democrats due to his extreme views. The episode concludes with a discussion of the importance of North Carolina in Biden's path to 270 electoral votes, emphasizing the state's potential to substitute for other key battleground states.
Outlines
StoryCore Podcast Introduction
This Chapter introduces the StoryCore podcast and its latest season, "Myway," which features stories of individuals who have lived life on their own terms. The podcast highlights the courage and audacity of these individuals and encourages listeners to tune in on the StoryCore podcast from NPR.
Democrats' Hopes for a Blue North Carolina
This Chapter delves into the Democrats' hopes for a blue North Carolina in the 2024 presidential election. The discussion centers around the changing demographics of the state, the importance of black voters, and the challenges the Biden campaign faces in mobilizing them. The episode highlights the importance of the gubernatorial race in North Carolina, with the Republican candidate, Mark Robinson, being seen as a potential up-ballot help for Democrats due to his extreme views.
NPR Politics Podcast Outro
This Chapter concludes the NPR Politics Podcast episode with a brief summary of the key points discussed and a promotion for the "Consider This" newsletter from NPR. The newsletter provides a daily breakdown of major news stories in an easily digestible format, allowing listeners to stay informed on current events.
Keywords
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. It is known for its diverse geography, including mountains, beaches, and forests. North Carolina is a key battleground state in presidential elections, with a history of close races and a changing demographic landscape. The state is home to several major universities, including Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. North Carolina is also a major center for manufacturing, agriculture, and technology.
Biden Campaign
The Biden campaign refers to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States. The campaign is focused on mobilizing voters, particularly in key battleground states, and promoting Biden's policies and agenda. The campaign faces challenges in mobilizing certain voter groups, including black voters, and is working to address these concerns. The Biden campaign is also focused on countering the Republican candidate's message and highlighting the differences between their respective policies.
Black Voters
Black voters are a significant demographic group in the United States, particularly in key battleground states. They are often a key factor in determining the outcome of elections. Black voters have historically been a strong base of support for the Democratic Party, but there are concerns about their turnout and enthusiasm in recent elections. The Biden campaign is working to mobilize black voters and address their concerns, particularly in states like North Carolina.
Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson is a Republican candidate for governor of North Carolina. He is a far-right, mega-conservative politician who has made controversial statements about abortion, women's roles, religion, and race. Robinson's extreme views have made him a polarizing figure in the state and have led some Democrats to believe that he could actually help their chances in the gubernatorial race. Robinson's candidacy has also brought the issue of abortion to the forefront of the campaign, as he has expressed support for a more restrictive ban on abortion.
Gubernatorial Race
The gubernatorial race refers to the election for governor of a state. In North Carolina, the gubernatorial race is seen as a key indicator of the political climate in the state and could have implications for the presidential election. The race is particularly competitive this year, with the Republican candidate, Mark Robinson, being seen as a potential up-ballot help for Democrats due to his extreme views. The race is also likely to be heavily influenced by the issue of abortion, as Robinson has expressed support for a more restrictive ban on abortion.
Electoral Votes
Electoral votes are the votes cast by electors in the Electoral College, which determines the winner of the presidential election. Each state is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on its population. A candidate needs to win at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. The Biden campaign is focused on securing enough electoral votes to win the election, and North Carolina is seen as a key battleground state that could help them reach their goal.
Q&A
What are the Democrats' hopes for North Carolina in the 2024 presidential election?
The Democrats are hoping to win North Carolina in the 2024 presidential election, which would be a significant victory for them. They believe that the changing demographics of the state, particularly the growing number of young voters and voters of color, could help them win. However, they face challenges in mobilizing black voters, who have historically been a strong base of support for the Democratic Party but have shown lower turnout in recent elections.
What is the significance of the gubernatorial race in North Carolina?
The gubernatorial race in North Carolina is seen as a key indicator of the political climate in the state and could have implications for the presidential election. The race is particularly competitive this year, with the Republican candidate, Mark Robinson, being seen as a potential up-ballot help for Democrats due to his extreme views. Robinson's candidacy has also brought the issue of abortion to the forefront of the campaign, as he has expressed support for a more restrictive ban on abortion.
How important is North Carolina for Biden's path to 270 electoral votes?
North Carolina is a key battleground state that could help Biden secure enough electoral votes to win the presidency. If Biden were to lose other key battleground states, such as Wisconsin or Michigan, North Carolina could be a crucial state for him to win. However, it is a big if, as the race is very competitive and the outcome is uncertain.
What are the challenges the Biden campaign faces in mobilizing black voters in North Carolina?
The Biden campaign faces challenges in mobilizing black voters in North Carolina, who have historically been a strong base of support for the Democratic Party but have shown lower turnout in recent elections. Some black voters feel that their vote doesn't really matter, that the system doesn't work for them, and that things don't change no matter who's in office. The Biden campaign is working to address these concerns and convince black voters that their vote is important and that Biden's policies will benefit them.
How could Mark Robinson's candidacy help Democrats in the gubernatorial race?
Mark Robinson's candidacy could help Democrats in the gubernatorial race because his extreme views could alienate suburban voters, who are often a key swing group in elections. These voters might be more likely to vote for the Democratic candidate, Josh Stein, in order to prevent Robinson from winning. Robinson's candidacy has also brought the issue of abortion to the forefront of the campaign, which could mobilize voters who are opposed to his views on abortion.
Show Notes
This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
This podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
Table of contents
United States
