Biden and Harris Travel to North Carolina in Effort to Turn State Blue

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are heading to North Carolina on Tuesday to showcase their healthcare agenda in contrast to a recent blueprint offered by congressional Republicans. This trip is a part of their reelection campaign efforts to win over the state, which has not flipped Democratic since 2008.

This visit to North Carolina wraps up Biden’s tour of key campaign battleground states following his State of the Union address earlier this month. The tour has allowed Biden, a Democrat, to highlight differences between his policies and those of Republicans, while also raising significant funds for his reelection campaign, especially as his top rival, Donald Trump, faces legal challenges.

Biden’s reelection team sees promise in North Carolina, especially after Trump’s narrow victory in the state in 2020. The last Democrat to win North Carolina was Barack Obama in 2008. However, Democrats point out that Republicans’ margin of victory has been shrinking in recent elections.

During his visit, Biden is expected to emphasize the record enrollment in Obamacare, now covering 21 million people compared to 9 million when he took office. He will also highlight the new $35 cap on insulin and a plan to enable the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices with pharmaceutical companies for the first time.

These achievements will be contrasted with a budget proposal put forth by the Republican Study Committee, which White House senior adviser Anita Dunn says would significantly cut healthcare coverage under Obamacare and Medicaid, as well as remove protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

“The difference is simple. The president and vice president have always believed that healthcare is a right not a privilege,” Dunn stated.

According to the latest poll by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, Trump currently holds a 3% lead over Biden in North Carolina. The poll also indicates a decline in support for Biden among crucial Black voters.

Democrats are looking at down-ballot races as a potential boost for Biden in the upcoming election. They are hopeful that Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor, could help sway voters towards the Democratic ticket in 2024.

Robinson has made a name for himself as a political figure, known for his strong opinions on social issues that resonate with his Trump-supporting base while causing controversy among Democrats. He has a history of making antisemitic remarks and is against abortion and gay rights.