With Harris on the march, Trump aims to shore up North Carolina

Kamala Harris’ ascension to the top of the Democratic ticket has forced Donald Trump to direct more resources to battleground North Carolina.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension to the top of the Democratic ticket has forced former President Donald Trump to direct considerably more resources to the lone state his campaign is playing defense in this year: North Carolina.

Since the beginning of August, Trump’s campaign and his joint fundraising committees have spent at least $7.4 million on ads in the Tar Heel state, according to AdImpact tracking. That’s about $3 million more than Harris and her joint fundraising committees have spent over the same period. It's the most money the Trump team has spent on ads in any swing state since the beginning of the month, narrowly edging out Pennsylvania. 

Total pro-Trump spending in the state tops $11.2 million over that time, while pro-Harris spending clocked in at about $7.6 million, according to AdImpact tracking.

Of course, with two major media markets surrounding Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina isn’t a cheap state to advertise in. And other outside groups backing Trump have spent more in other battleground states, making it less necessary for the Trump team to dedicate resources there. 

But given that North Carolina is the only major swing state that both parties are actively contesting this cycle that Trump won in 2016 and 2020, the Harris team sees the influx of spending and attention here as proof that their GOP rivals are increasingly nervous about keeping the state’s 16 electoral votes in its column.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-aims-shore-up-north-carolina-harris-rcna167401

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