Christine Zhu, NC Newsline

In the month since President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have made a combined four campaign stops to North Carolina.

Both candidates have focused their visits on the seven battleground states that are crucial for the path to the White House: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Of those seven states, North Carolina was the only one Trump won in 2020 — and he did so by a narrow margin of 1.3 percent. ...

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper thinks down-ballot races will help Vice President Kamala Harris win the Tar Heel State, he said at the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

Speaking to POLITICO journalist Ryan Lizza at a Q&A event, Cooper predicted strong voter turnout to prevent “extreme” right wing candidates from winning office.

“I think there’s going to be a rising up that will end up helping Vice President Harris in this race, from some people who may not have gone to the polls even in a presidential year, because these races are so important,” he said....