Obama, McCain Continuing To Focus On North Carolina

This story was written by Daniel Ellis, Technician

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama and their campaigns will continue efforts to draw voters from North Carolina as they campaign throughout the state this week.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden will make two campaign stops across the State following Sarah Palins stop in Asheville Sunday night, but Jon Lohr, a North Carolina State University sophomore in engineering, said the attention isn't so important.

Its just a campaign, Lohr said. North Carolina is a swing state this year and its their job to campaign in the close states.

Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at Wednesday, though the location has not been released, while John McCain is slated to appear in Fayetteville Tuesday.

Candidates from both sides must go to battleground states to reassure voters' of their views, Spencer Feuerstein, a sophomore in engineering, said.

Its important for both candidates to visit a battleground state to share their views with everyone, Feuerstein said. Especially if both candidates go, because it gives everyone a chance to see both sides and make the decision that they believe is right.

Although North Carolina has traditionally been a red state, Obama currently holds a very thin lead over McCain in the latest pollster.com composite results. As it stands, 49 percent of voters polled are choosing Obama while 46.4 percent support McCain.

I personally hope that Obama holds that lead, Feuerstein said.

With the race being so tight, candidates have spent more time in North Carolina late in the race than others have in past elections.

Chris Mills, a sophomore in environmental technology, said that while the attention is beneficial, it isnt necessarily genuine.

Its good that they care about North Carolina, but at the same time, they would be doing this in any other state that was this close, Chris Mills, a sophomore in environmental technology, said. They may say they care about our issues, but they arent going to change their actual policies for North Carolina. They are just saying whatever it takes to get elected.

If Obama does prevail in North Carolina, it will mark the first time a Democratic presidential candidate has won it since the 1976 election where Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford.

According to Lohr, changes in demographics in the state aren't enough to ensure an Obama victory.

Peoples opinions have changed, but the State really hasnt, Lohr said. The cities have been growing and cities typically draw liberals. Still, I dont believe that North Carolina is going to vote Democrat.