As Republicans gathered at the state GOP convention this weekend, the campaign of presidential candidate Mitt Romney is beginning to intensify its effort in North Carolina, hoping to reclaim what has traditionally been a red state in presidential politics.
President Barack Obama's campaign is putting a big emphasis on the state he won by a slim margin in 2008, but national prognosticators say its not necessary to his winning strategy. Those same observers say the state leans Republican in the 2012 election -- and Romney's camp is treating it like Florida and Ohio, more traditional swing states. But is North Carolina a must-win for Romney? The Romney team seems to be lowering expectations.
"Even though it is very competitive, on the president’s best day, he barely won it (North Carolina),” said Charles Black, an informal Romney advisor. “So if this is a closer race this time, which everyone thinks it will be, then we should win it. But nothing is a must-win except for your base. He must win New York. We must win Tennessee. But there are different combinations for either guy in the 14 states to get to 270 (electoral votes).” Read more here.
