The situation in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene is so dire that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has advised the Biden-Harris administration to shift its focus away from Florida, which the hurricane also affected, because Florida has things under control while North Carolina requires urgent assistance. To say that things aren't going well in North Carolina is an understatement, and sadly, there may be a reason that the Biden-Harris administration has mishandled the federal response to Helene, and it could be deliberate.
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) expressed concerns that the aftermath of the hurricane could significantly impact voter turnout in the upcoming 2024 election. He highlighted the devastating flooding in western North Carolina, which leans conservative, where many residents are stranded and unable to leave their homes.
Related: The Biden-Harris Federal Response to Helene Is a Total Disaster
“We were just talking about it. I thought about that. This can be devastating,” Murphy said during an appearance on Fox Business’s Mornings with Maria Bartiromo.
“I mean, this could flip an election because if you can’t get the western part, again, like the eastern part, we generally tend to be conservative, of course," he told guest host Cheryl Casone. "If those people are not able to get out and vote, heck, they’re looking for shelter and food and medicine, how are we going to get them to vote?”
As Murphy pointed out, this election is not just about the candidates but about the voters themselves. A significant number of individuals are likely to be unable to participate due to the hurricane’s aftermath, which could tip the balance in a state where margins are razor-thin. He expressed concern, stating, “I still think Trump wins the state… but what’s happened in the west, which tends to be a conservative area, is concerning to me.”
Early voting is set to begin on October 17.
Depicted below is a party affiliation map of North Carolina.
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) September 29, 2024
Perhaps the Harris/Biden Administration is purposely denying western North Carolina federal disaster aid in hopes that voting infrastructure will not be restored in time for the November 5th election, and the vastly… pic.twitter.com/oxdQR6vGAN
On Sunday, Joe Biden told the media that the Biden-Harris administration had given the victims of the hurricane "everything that we have" and claimed that there aren't any more resources that the federal government can provide.
Related: With Biden and Harris MIA After Helene Devastation, Trump Steps Up
Murphy urged the North Carolina General Assembly to act swiftly to meet the state’s essential needs as it recovers from Helene and to ensure that residents can vote. He described the state as being in "rescue mode" with ongoing efforts to assist those stranded in their homes, predicting that full recovery in the western part of the state could take years.
Trump has a marginal lead in the RealClearPolitics average for North Carolina, and one cannot help but wonder how the political landscape in North Carolina will shift as a result of this natural disaster and whether the poor federal response and the lack of resources are deliberate attempts to help Kamala Harris win the election.
