CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina’s senate race is one of nine that could change the balance of power in Washington.
The race between incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan and Republican challenger Thom Tillis is the most expensive ever, and it has been increasingly nasty.
The two candidates for a North Carolina senate seat, and the outside money backing them, are spending more than $100 million in this pivotal race. A tidal wave of ads, with a current of negativity from both candidates. It’s a race that helped push a record number to the polls for early voting in this mid-term election.
It’s down to the final details in the closing hours. Kay Hagan paid a visit to her Cary office Monday afternoon, giving campaign workers some last minute encouragement.
“I’ve got 100 locations across North Carolina right now with 10,000 volunteers hitting the pavement, knocking on doors reminding people the difference in this race,” said Hagan.
The Tillis campaign has picked up momentum in recent weeks, closing ground on the incumbent. Hagan has a slim two-point lead in the latest polls. Thom Tillis was in Charlotte Monday afternoon, visiting the Republican party headquarters for an election-eve pep talk.
“In all our victory centers across the state, people are working really, really hard,” said Tillis. “And we’re getting great response from the calls we’re making. So I’m excited, and I’m very optimistic about our prospects tomorrow.”
The themes have been consistent. In a one-on-one interview, Senator Hagan called out Tillis for decisions she says have hurt North Carolina’s children and the middle class.
“He gave tax cuts to the wealthy in North Carolina, and now has gutted our education system,” said Hagan. “Has really hurt small business in North Carolina.”
When we sat down with Tillis, he hammered away at Hagan for siding with president Barack Obama.
“We’ve got economic issues. We’ve got national security issues,” says Tillis. “We need a Congress that is going to get engaged, send legislation to the President’s desk, heal this economy and protect our safety and security.”
Polls in North Carolina are open from 6:30 Tuesday morning until 7:30 at night. Voters in South Carolina can cast their ballots from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.
