CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Democrats converge on Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, local political scientists expect a continued show in enthusiasm for the newly-minted democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
"I think Harris will get a bump out of the convention. There were a lot of relieved Democrats who did not think that Joe Biden could beat Donald Trump," Scott Huffmon, Professor of Politics at Winthrop University, said.
Going into the fall, political scientists like Huffmon are expecting a tighter race in North Carolina than once thought. Now Democrats are opening more field offices across the state.
"Democrats have been investing on the ground in this state. After Harris became basically the de facto nominee, volunteers have spiked as well. I think the general sense of enthusiasm, energy, motivation has really now kind of resurfaced among Democrats," Michael Bitzer, Professor of Politics at Catawba College, said.
Barack Obama was the last democratic presidential candidate to win in North Carolina. In 2020, Joe Biden lost the state by 1% of voters. Bitzer said victory in 2024 will be decided by a small percentage of voters in North Carolina.
"Ninety-seven percent of the electorate baked into one side or the other. That last 3% of the electorate that makes or breaks a statewide candidate is the 'persuadables'," he said.
Despite renewed hope, Bitzer cautions Democrats from becoming too optimistic about their chances.
"This is not going to be, in my estimation, at this point, any type of landslide victory for either side," he said.
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