From October 25, 2022 post
Today, news outlets are reporting on former President Barack Obama’s endorsement of Cheri Beasley for U.S. Senate in “one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests” that is a “virtually dead-even race.” Outlets noted that North Carolina “is an essential pickup for Senate Democrats,” who “have a strong shot at flipping a seat in the evenly split chamber.”
In his endorsement, President Obama described Cheri as “honest” and a leader who “puts people first,” highlighting that Cheri “will fight to make health care and prescription drugs affordable and protect fundamental rights like voting and women’s rights.”
News outlets also highlighted that this endorsement comes as part of the Beasley campaign’s efforts to “engage and mobilize Black voters,” which has also included visits to churches and barbershops, and meetings with historically Black fraternities and sororities. Meanwhile, Congressman Ted Budd, with his “hard-line conservative views,” is leaning into his Trump endorsement which “could alienate the moderate and independent voters who often decide elections in swing states,” including North Carolina “where the unaffiliated make up the greatest pool of voters.”
Read the highlights here:
AP: Obama endorses Beasley in crucial Senate race for Democrats
By Hannah Schoenbaum
October 25, 2022
Former President Barack Obama endorsed North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley on Tuesday in a new campaign ad as Democrats target the Southern swing state as one of the few where they have a strong shot at flipping a seat in the evenly split chamber.
North Carolina, which Obama narrowly won in 2008, has one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests in the midterm elections. Beasley, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, who has former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. With Republicans projected to make gains in the House in November, Beasley’s race is an essential pickup for Senate Democrats who hope to retain control of at least one chamber.
As her opponent leans into his Trump ties — a move political analysts say could alienate the moderate and independent voters who often decide elections in swing states — Beasley’s campaign said it plans to spend 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.
“Cheri works hard, she’s honest and, most importantly, she always puts people first,” Obama says in the 60-second ad. “In the Senate, Cheri will fight to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable and protect our fundamental rights, from the right to vote to a woman’s right to control her own body. This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.
The ad is part of a wider effort to engage and mobilize Black voters in the Tar Heel state, the Beasley campaign told The Associated Press, including church visits and meetings with members of historically Black fraternities and sororities known as “The Divine Nine.”
The Hill: Obama endorses Beasley in NC Senate race
By Brad Dress
October 25, 2022
Former President Obama on Tuesday endorsed Democrat Cheri Beasley in North Carolina’s Senate race, calling her an “honest” candidate who “puts people first.”
In a campaign video shared on Twitter, Obama cited Beasley’s history as a public defender, judge and the first African American woman to serve as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
“Cheri works hard, she’s honest, and most importantly, she always puts people first,” he said in the video. “In the Senate, Cheri will fight to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable and protect our fundamental rights. … This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.”
Polls show a tight race in Beasley’s bid for the open Senate seat against Republican Rep. Ted Budd (N.C.), who slightly leads in the polls.
Beasley’s campaign has sought to shine a light on Budd’s hard-line conservative views, including his backing of a 15-week abortion ban and his praise of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as “patriots.”
N&O: Former President Obama endorses NC’s Cheri Beasley for Senate
By Danielle Battaglia
October 25, 2022Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday morning endorsed North Carolina’s Democratic Senate candidate, Cheri Beasley. Beasley, 56, is campaigning to take the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who is leaving at the end of his term that expires in January. To do so, she must defeat Rep. Ted Budd, 51, a Republican from the Triad.
The pair are polling closely in a purple state where the unaffiliated make up the greatest pool of voters.
Obama’s endorsement comes with a radio and digital ad that highlights Beasley’s service as a public defender, judge and the first African American woman to serve as the state’s Supreme Court chief justice.
Obama also says that Beasley will fight to make health care and prescription drugs affordable and protect fundamental rights like voting and women’s rights. “This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong,” Obama says.
Fox 8: Former President Obama endorses Cheri Beasley in North Carolina’s Senate race
By Steve Doyle
October 25, 2022
Beasley, a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, has been locked in a very close race with Republican Ted Budd, a gun-shop owner from Advance who has represented the 13th Congressional District since 2016. Polls have moved a few points in either direction but show a virtually dead-even race to replace retiring Republican Richard Burr and perhaps establish which party controls the Senate in January.
In the transcript of the ad, Obama – who carried North Carolina in his first election in 2008, the last time a Democrat was elected to represent the state in the Senate – acknowledges that “this is going to be a close race.”
Original source can be found here.
