Battle For North Carolina's Rural Voters Heats Up

Democratic candidates Rep. Don Davis and state Rep. Terence Everitt listen to speakers at the Granville County Democratic Party fundraiser in Oxford, N.C., while standing among other attendees on Frid

President Joe Biden and Donald Trump are focusing on battleground states in the upcoming White House race, with North Carolina being a key target. Rural voters are crucial for both campaigns, but they face challenges such as voter indifference, fatigue, and disgust.

Both Democrats and Republicans are engaging in face-to-face contact to sway voters, particularly in swing counties like Granville County, situated between Raleigh-Durham and the Virginia state line.

One significant aspect of the campaign is the advertising spending in North Carolina. Democrats are outspending Republicans by nearly 4-to-1, with Democratic groups having spent over $4 million compared to about $1 million from Republicans as of June 7. Looking ahead to the fall, Democrats have reserved over $5.6 million in ad slots, while Republicans have only reserved $25,000 so far.

The Raleigh-Durham area sees a substantial portion of advertising spending, with Democrats spending almost $2 million and Republicans over $138,000. Despite the area leaning Democratic, it borders counties like Granville and Franklin, which supported Trump in 2020.

Democrats outspend Republicans in advertising spending.

Biden and Trump focus on North Carolina's rural voters.

Granville County is a key swing county in North Carolina.

Many Americans are not closely following the election, with about 4 in 10 respondents in a Pew Research Center poll stating they are not paying much attention to the candidates. Younger adults are less engaged than older individuals, and around 6 in 10 adults feel exhausted by the extensive coverage of the campaign.

Winning over rural voters in North Carolina is crucial due to the state's significant rural population. While Democrats may not dominate rural areas, keeping the margins close could benefit them, given their strength in urban regions. Trump has historically performed well in rural counties, with 64 backing him in 2020 compared to 14 for Biden.

However, some rural counties, like Granville, show potential for Democrats. Trump's winning margin in Granville County increased to 53% in 2020, up from 50% in 2016. The county previously supported Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, making it one of six counties in North Carolina that shifted from Obama to Trump.