Harris Cuts Ad Spending In North Carolina As Early Voting Favors GOP

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has significantly reduced ad spending in North Carolina, cutting $2 million of an initially planned $2.7 million ad budget. This decision, reported just a week before Election Day, suggests a shift in focus as the race tightens. Harris’ campaign still plans a rally in Raleigh, where she leads, while former President Donald Trump will campaign in Rocky Mount on the same day.

Recent polling shows the two candidates in a deadlock across the state, each holding 47%. Trump leads in areas stretching from Charlotte to the coast, while Harris maintains an edge in Raleigh-Durham. North Carolina’s early voting is already underway, and over 3 million ballots have been cast.

Republicans are seeing strong turnout in North Carolina this year. According to Dr. Andy Jackson from the Civitas Center, Republican voters are outpacing Democrats, with turnout up by 9,000, while Democratic turnout has dropped by more than 340,000 from 2020. Lower early voting numbers from Black voters, who supported Biden by a large margin in 2020, are also impacting Democrats.

The report also shows a notable shift in young voters. While young Republicans have turned out in similar numbers to 2020, young Democratic voters have decreased by 37,000. This leaves both parties competing neck and neck for the youth vote, a key factor in previous elections.

With less than a week to go, both campaigns are focusing on mobilizing their bases. The ad cut in North Carolina has sparked speculation, but the Harris campaign is hoping that strong turnout in their remaining strongholds will make up for GOP gains.