High-ranking Democrats are throwing support behind Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee. Some are saying that NC Gov. Roy Cooper could join her as VP.
RALEIGH, N.C. — With eyes on a Harris ticket, several names are being floated as potential running mates, including one from right here in our state. The presidential election saw a seismic shake-up on Sunday after President Biden exited the race. Now, Governor Roy Cooper’s name is being floated to run alongside Kamala Harris. So, what would that mean for North Carolina?
Top-ranking Democrats are rallying behind Kamala Harris to face off against Trump in November. The vice president has already started campaigning and might be looking to North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper to help push her over the finish line.
“He got us through COVID, got us vaccinated, got our economy up and running,” Rep. Kathy Manning, District 6 (D), said. “He is relentless in his pursuit of what he thinks is important for the people of our state. I think he would be a spectacular running mate.”
Other North Carolina democratic lawmakers agree. They say Cooper’s time as governor proves he can reach across the aisle and get independents and Republicans to vote for Harris.
“Governor Cooper is an extremely popular governor and a good governor,” said Sen. Paul Lowe, District 32 (D). “I think he would help to deliver North Carolina. This is a battleground state and because it’s a battleground state we’ve got to do everything we can to whip up votes as they say so I think he would be one of the best people to do it.”
However, North Carolina Republicans strongly disagree.
They told News 2, they’re not worried Cooper will help flip the state blue. They say Cooper is taking credit from a majority Republican General Assembly and putting him on the ballot won’t build as much momentum as Democrats need to win the state.
“North Carolina Democrats have this idea that putting Cooper on the ticket will make a difference. I just don’t see that,” said Sen. Phil Berger, District 26 (R). “They said the same thing back in 2004 when they put John Edwards on the ticket. Didn’t change things and Edwards was a much more charismatic individual.”
For the past three elections, the state has voted red. This time around, even with a hometown politician on the ticket, they’re confident Trump will carry the state.
“It’s because of republican policies that North Carolina is doing so well if he’s on the ticket I think that the average voter is going to again, look at the four years that we had under Donald Trump and the past four years we’ve had under Joe Biden. Whoever the Democrats nominate whether it’s Kamala or somebody else they’re just going to be a continuation of Joe Biden,” said Rep. Kyle Hall, District 91 (R).
Democrats are expected to pick their next presidential nominee at the Democratic National Convention in August.
