After their first debate in the 2024 election rematch, President Biden and former President Trump are planning rallies in the southern states to try and expand their reach. President Biden will be heading to North Carolina, a state he narrowly lost to Trump in 2020. Trump, on the other hand, will be holding a rally in Virginia, a state he lost by 10 points in the previous election.
Virginia has not been won by a Republican in two decades, with the last being President George W. Bush in 2004. Recent polling shows a tight race between Biden and Trump in the state. A Fox News poll conducted in June indicated both candidates tied at 48% in a head-to-head match. In a multi-candidate race, Biden had 42% support, Trump had 41%, and other candidates shared the rest of the votes.
Political science professor Dave Richards from the University of Lynchburg commented on the close race in Virginia, highlighting the confusion in the political landscape. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin also believes that Virginia is in play for the upcoming election, stating that there is still a lot of time before a clear front-runner emerges.
Youngkin is expected to join Trump at the upcoming rally, sparking speculation about a possible running mate scenario. Trump praised Youngkin in a recent interview, hinting that he could consider him for a role in the future. The two politicians met recently to discuss strategies to flip Virginia in the election.
Meanwhile, President Biden will be in Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital city for his rally. Having lost the state by a slim margin in 2020, Biden is making efforts to secure North Carolina’s electoral votes. With a surge in new residents since the last election, Democrats see an opportunity to turn the state blue. However, political experts emphasize the importance of investing in ground operations to ensure a high voter turnout.
As the campaign trail heats up, both candidates are focusing on key battleground states to secure their path to victory. The upcoming rallies in North Carolina and Virginia will be crucial in shaping the narrative and mobilizing supporters as the election draws near. Stay tuned for more updates from the 2024 campaign trail.