Campaigns eye North Carolina and its crucial 16 electoral votes

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Both campaigns set their sights on North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes, as polling shows it's anyone’s state. The former President was back in the crucial battleground state Monday, surveying the ongoing fallout from Hurricane Helene, and criticizing the response.

I think it’s a disgrace what happened with FEMA, what’s happened with their rescue effort, their rescue effort was almost non-existent," Donald Trump told reporters.

The Tar Heel state could be crucial to both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential prospects. Harris was in Greenville, N.C. last week, and surrogates including former President Bill Clinton campaigned for Harris in North Carolina over the weekend.

I have spoken to both state and local officials both Republican and Democrat to let them know we will be with you every step of the way as you recover," she told her supporters at her October 13 rally.

Polling in the state is incredibly tight, with Harris holding a two-point edge in a Quinnipiac poll released last week. Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win the state 16 years ago in 2008. More than 1 million people had already voted early since it began in North Carolina on Thursday. Voting efforts are more complicated in the western part of the state that was ravaged by Helene.

"We might need an all-terrain vehicle, but we will get in to vote," said North Carolina resident Jeff Auletta.

Some places in the state have been without water for more than 20 days. X User Matt Van Swol posted devastating drone video Friday of the damage that remains, with part of his post reading “Please don’t forget us.”

Of the seven battleground states, there are multiple scenarios involving North Carolina. The 16 electoral votes are tied with fellow battleground state Georgia, with both just behind Pennsylvania's critical 19 electoral votes.