President Trump will visit North Carolina on Wednesday to boost Senate candidate Michael Whatley, a Republican trailing Democrat Roy Cooper in the polls.
Mr. Trump’s visit outside Charlotte is the first outing in his promised return to the campaign trail to rally support for Republican candidates in close midterm races.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, are hitting Mr. Cooper, a former governor, for being an out-of-touch “radical” who was soft on crime and failed to address rising health care costs when he led the state.
It’s been an uphill climb for Mr. Whatley, who has trailed throughout the race. Recent surveys show him behind by roughly 8 points.
Mr. Whatley’s main challenge has been improving his name recognition, and he got an opportunity to do that last week with a speaking slot at the Republican convention in Dallas.
Western Carolina University political science professor Christopher Cooper said the speech likely didn’t make a dent with voters.
“Only the most devout political watchers tuned into the midterm convention,” said Mr. Cooper, who is not related to the Democratic nominee. “To improve his lot, Whatley has to define himself to the North Carolina voters above and beyond his connection to President Trump. If the national money continues to flow, he may be able to do this.”
Capturing the North Carolina seat would be a big prize for Democrats seeking a net gain of four seats to win the Senate majority. The seat is currently held by outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
Mr. Cooper enjoys wide name recognition as the governor from 2017 to 2025, and North Carolina voters have been willing to select Democrats despite Mr. Trump’s wins there in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections.
Democrats have controlled the governor’s mansion for nearly a decade, even as Republicans control the legislature and, since 2015, both U.S. Senate seats.
“A Democrat has not won statewide federal office in North Carolina in nearly two decades, and we know this race will be very close,” Cooper campaign manager Jeff Allen told The Washington Times.
Mr. Cooper is tapping into voters’ concerns about the cost of living with his Make Stuff Cost Less tour. He is tying Mr. Whatley to the president’s war in Iran, which raised gas prices, and the GOP push to slash Obamacare subsidies.
“We are hearing from Dallas, from my opponent Michael Whatley, from the president, about how the economy is great, and that inflation’s going down. What? Where are they? I know where they are. They’re in a room with their billionaire friends,” Mr. Cooper said at a recent stop in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Mr. Whatley says Mr. Cooper is the one who will raise costs.
“Roy Cooper wants you to pay more in taxes and give it to the bureaucrats in Washington,” he told the convention in Dallas.
Mr. Whatley also said Mr. Cooper left communities less safe with “revolving door” policies that led to the high-profile death last year of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutsak in a knife attack on a light rail train in Charlotte. “Her blood is on Roy Cooper’s hands,” he said.
Mr. Trump’s stop in North Carolina kicks off an aggressive travel schedule planned for the final weeks before the Nov. 4 election.
“Roy Cooper has maxed out his support and can’t grow anymore,” said Whatley campaign spokesman D.J. Griffin. “But voters in N.C., especially on the right, tune in late and break late. This Trump visit will be a great motivator and a part of turning out Republicans to the polls this November.”
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