Democrats are panicking as they pull out Former President Barack Obama to stump for them at the last minute. Obama has now endorsed North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley in a new campaign ad as Democrats target the Southern swing state.
“Cheri works hard. She’s honest,” he says in the ad. “And most importantly, she always puts the people first… This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.”
“Cheri works hard. She’s honest. And most importantly, she always puts the people first… This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.”
I’m honored to receive @BarackObama’s endorsement for U.S. Senate. Let’s do this. pic.twitter.com/CJ6hxrAZVj
— Cheri Beasley (@CheriBeasleyNC) October 25, 2022
Obama narrowly won North Carolina in 2008. Today the state has one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests in the midterm elections. It is the race to fill retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr’s seat.
Beasley is the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court. She is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, who has former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. With a Republican red wave projected for November. Beasley’s race could be a crucial pickup for Senate Democrats. All in their hopes to retain control of the chamber which is currently evenly split 50-50.
Beasley’s campaign plans on spending lots of money, at least six figures, broadcasting Obama’s endorsement statewide. Beginning Tuesday, the campaign will air a 60-second ad voiced by the former president on social media and a 30-second cut on digital platforms and radio.
The former president’s support came while in-person early voting was already underway in North Carolina. He has also endorsed Democratic Senate candidates John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Mandela Barnes of Wisconsin.
The ad is part of a wider effort to engage and mobilize Black voters in the Tar Heel state. Beasley’s campaign told The Associated Press, including church visits and meetings with members of historically Black fraternities and sororities known as “The Divine Nine.”
