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Axelrod pointed out that while liberal voters in areas like Asheville may find ways to vote despite the destruction, it’s a different story for those living in rural, pro-Trump strongholds. “Those voters in Asheville are, you know, the kind of voters who will figure out a way to vote. You know? They’re upscale voters, kind of liberal voters, and they’re probably going to figure out a way to vote. I’m not sure a bunch of these folks who’ve had their homes and lives destroyed elsewhere in Western North Carolina, in the mountains there, are going to be as easy to wrangle for the Trump campaign.”
With the polls showing a tight race in North Carolina, Axelrod’s comments have sparked speculation that the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene could sway the upcoming election. “I don’t know how that’s all going to play out, but it’s an unpredictable element in North Carolina that has made it a little more interesting,” Axelrod added.
Former President Donald Trump won North Carolina by just 70,000 votes in the 2020 election, and now, the state is once again up for grabs. Many conservative commentators are questioning whether the Biden-Harris administration’s apparent lack of urgency in responding to the disaster is driven by political motives.
Axelrod is deeply connected to the inner workings of the Democratic Party, and his observations have added weight to the belief among many on the Right that politics may be influencing the administration’s response. Critics argue that the administration may be dragging its feet in providing aid to pro-Trump regions to diminish Republican voter turnout in November.
Even media outlets that traditionally support Kamala Harris have not shied away from discussing the potential political impact of the hurricane. A recent article published by POLITICO was titled, “Helene Hit Trump Strongholds in Georgia and North Carolina. It Could Swing the Election.” The article points out that the areas hardest hit by the storm—western North Carolina and eastern Georgia—are predominantly Republican.
POLITICO reported, “The parts of western North Carolina and eastern Georgia that were flooded by the monster storm are largely Republican. In 2020, [Trump] won 61 percent of the vote in the North Carolina counties that were declared a disaster after Helene. He won 54 percent of the vote in Georgia’s disaster counties.”
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The low rate of returned absentee ballots in these disaster-stricken areas has further fueled concerns. According to POLITICO, “State records show that nearly 40,000 absentee ballots were mailed to voters in the 25 North Carolina counties that were declared a disaster following Helene. Fewer than 1,000 have been returned.”
Elections are often won or lost by small margins, and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene could have significant political ramifications. As fewer ballots are returned in pro-Trump areas, some are speculating that this natural disaster may inadvertently benefit Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether the administration’s slow response to the disaster is deliberate. Some are suggesting that Democrats may be hoping to capitalize on the low turnout in heavily Republican areas. While there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, the timing of the response—or lack thereof—has left many wondering if politics is once again influencing disaster relief.
As the recovery continues and election day draws nearer, one thing is certain: the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has added a new and unexpected dimension to the 2024 political landscape. Whether or not the administration’s handling of the crisis will sway voters remains to be seen, but for now, the spotlight is firmly on Kamala Harris.
