(The Center Square) – In no measure of surprise, former Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday remained loyal to fellow Democrat Roy Cooper in his bid for the U.S. Senate during a visit to North Carolina.
In Greensboro, the Californian visited to promote her new book that covers her life story, presidential campaign experiences and vision for the future. Long mutually supportive of each other, the author of “107 Days” referred to Cooper as “North Carolina’s next senator” in a confirmation of her October endorsement.
Much has changed since then, notably the bombshell discovery that 51 death row inmates were among the 3,500 released as part of Cooper’s settlement with the NAACP and ACLU in February 2021 when he was governor. No public list was given at the time, and the deal was described by his administration as no violent offenders among those being released.
State Sen. Phil Berger said Decarlos Brown Jr., charged with murder in the death of Iryna Zarutska, was among them. Published reports have since confirmed 51 were in line to die in prison, even with the state in an unwritten moratorium on the death penalty.
Cooper – nearly on the ticket with her before pulling out – heartily endorsed Harris for president in July 2024, appearing in her campaign stops and staying aligned on policy. For Harris, among other things that meant little to no border security resulting in millions of immigrants – and fentanyl – flooding the country.
Harris says she is considering a run for president in 2028. Her first generated the title of her book, with Joe Biden abruptly pulling out in July just 107 days from Election Day. Harris went on to be swept 93-0 in electoral college votes in the battleground states in a definitive beat-down from a Donald Trump campaign pushing border security among its top agenda items.
Cooper’s popularity and political war chest is significant, as is the three-pronged albatross of the inmate release, a failed hurricane recovery office for Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018), and his authoritarian policy through executive orders and a record number of vetoes.
Studies have proven his COVID-19 decisions put students far behind in public education. The choices also closed businesses forever, costing many residents their jobs, and intruded on personal freedoms.
Ironically, his party is the biggest bloc behind rallies called no kings.
His main opponent is Republican Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee. He’s in his first quest for public office representing a party that seldom falls short in Senate races.
The late Kay Hagan in 2008 was the last Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state. The last Democrats to win midterms were John Edwards in 1998 and Terry Sanford in 1986.
Republicans are 5-0 in Senate elections since Hagan’s triumph.
Endorsements from Harris of Cooper and Trump of Whatley are just part of the big stakes appeal.
The campaigns are expected to generate a Senate spending record between $750 million and $1 billion. For context, that’s the neighborhood Major League Baseball’s Dodgers and Mets (combined payroll $788.5 million) are spending to try to win this year’s World Series.
