Former President Obama endorses NC’s Cheri Beasley for Senate
Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday morning endorsed North Carolina’s Democratic Senate candidate, Cheri Beasley.
Beasley, 56, is campaigning to take the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who is leaving at the end of his term that expires in January. To do so, she must defeat Rep. Ted Budd, 51, a Republican from the Triad.
The pair are polling closely in a purple state where the unaffiliated make up the greatest pool of voters.
Obama’s endorsement comes with a radio and digital ad that highlights Beasley’s service as a public defender, judge and the first African American woman to serve as the state’s Supreme Court chief justice.
“Cheri works hard,” Obama said in the ad. “She’s honest. And most importantly, she always puts people first.
Obama also says that Beasley will fight to make health care and prescription drugs affordable and protect fundamental rights like voting and women’s rights.
“This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong,” Obama says.
Leaders from both parties have been coming to North Carolina in recent weeks to campaign for Beasley and Budd.
Several members of President Joe Biden’s administration have visited the state, but Beasley has yet to appear at those events.
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This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 9:31 AM.