In an audio interview on the U.S. News Web site, Michael Barone expands on his assessment of North Carolina’s electoral competitiveness.
For Obama, states that are in play are obviously Virginia, where the polling has been showing him running neck and neck with John McCain, and North Carolina. Four years ago, North Carolina ? even though Democrats had John Edwards from North Carolina as their vice presidential candidate ? was something like a 12-point victory for George W. Bush. It wasn’t seriously targeted. Recent polling has been showing Obama within a couple of points of McCain, and the Obama campaign is putting a lot of effort into North Carolina.
Barone also suggests that a stronger effort to increase turnout among black voters could help Obama.
You’ll have a chance to hear Barone’s opinions in about a month. He’ll speak to a John Locke Foundation Headliner audience Sept. 24 in Winston-Salem.
