By Andrew Wong (V)
In North Carolina, incumbent Republican Senator Tom Thillis is going up against Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham in what is now the most expensive Senate race in history with almost $242 million spent on ads from both sides. Thillis has consistently trailed Cunningham, and, according to the most recent RealClearPolitics poll, this trend has continued. Cunningham leads by 4.3 percent as per the last RCP poll.
However, as the election draws nearer, scandal has gripped the North Carolina Senate Race. In early October, the Associated Press reported that Cunningham had been involved in many adulterous scandals, having sent suggestive texts as well as engaged in extramarital affairs as recently as July 2020. Cunningham apologized for his behavior shortly after the news was revealed, but has largely stuck to small virtual meetings and events. Thillis has capitalized on this opportunity, using it to question Cunningham’s character and credibility, in a last ditch effort to try and win the election.
The scandal has indeed shifted the perspective of undecided voters, who were expected to play a major role in deciding the outcome of the race. Interviews and polls from the Associated Press show that support for Cunningham among undecided voters has waned in the wake of the scandal. As the election heads into its final weeks, Cunningham’s scandal may prove to be the final boost for Thillis to win in an extremely tight election. Political analysts have labeled North Carolina as one of, if not, the most important Senate races as the Republicans hope to maintain their 53-47 Senate majority.