A high-profile race for the U.S. House that has attracted correspondents from the New York Times and the Financial Times is now down to the proverbial wire.
According to a New York Times/Siena College poll of North Carolina’s 9th District (Charlotte) released on Tuesday, Republican Mark Harris barely ekes out a lead over Democrat Dan McCready by 45 to 44 percent districtwide. The margin of error was +/-5.0.
The 9th District is drawing particular attention nationwide because it is not only one of the safest Republican districts in the Tarheel State but in the entire South. The 9th, in fact, has been in Republican hands consistently since 1952.
This year, Republicans were split when Harris, a pastor who had sought the U.S. Senate nomination in ’14, upset Rep. Robert Pittenger in a rancorous and close Republican primary. Macready, a retired U.S. Marine captain who saw action in Iraq, carries the Democratic standard and vows to “put country before party.”
Veteran North Carolina political analyst Marc Rotterman speaks with unique expertise on the 9th, having managed the Republican candidate the last time the district was faced with a Democratic upset (1984, when Republican Alex McMillan edged Democrat D.G. Martin in one of the closest races of the year).
“McCready is the prototype candidate for Democrats if they are going be competitive nationally,” Rotterman told Newsmax. “But Pastor Harris is camera ready, and well versed. Although McCready has a distinct fundraising advantage. Pastor Harris has turnout machine with his ties to the evangelical community.”
At the end of the day, predicts Rotterman, “Brett Kavanaugh, the Caravan, Trump and House Freedom Caucus Chairman and North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows will put Harris over.”
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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