Cooper rallies battleground states for Harris

(The Center Square) – Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina rallied the battleground states to fight for Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday evening on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

“Are we going to stand up? Are we going to fight? Are we going to vote? Are we going to win?” Cooper asked the packed house in Chicago's United Center. “You bet we are! Let’s go get them!”

Cooper held a coveted spot, speaking for just four minutes in the last slot before Harris’ acceptance speech. It was notable Cooper was asked to be in the spot, signaling Democrats believe North Carolina is in play for Harris.

Similarly in show of state importance, former President Donald Trump lifted Michael Whatley from chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party to chairman at the national level. And, he added co-chairwoman Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law and Wilmington native.

The governor's introduction of Harris is also likely a nod to Cooper’s place as one of the top choices for Harris’ running mate, a spot that was eventually filled by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Cooper, term-limited as governor, is a potential member of her Cabinet.

Already, the Cooper administration has graduated up to the Biden administration Michael Regan and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the respective directors of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

North Carolina is one of seven consensus battleground states alongside Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada.

Despite the label, the state has still consistently voted Republican in the presidential election all but twice since Lyndon B. Johnson won in 1964. In 14 elections since, the only Democrats to win were Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008.

Cooper promised that Harris will fight not just for Democrats, but for all Americans.

“I know that, because I know her. And tonight, I want the American people to know,” he said. “Even if you don’t agree with her on everything, Kamala Harris will fight for you ’til the very end.”

He told a story about a time that Harris fought back against big banks in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crisis.

Cooper said, “She went toe-to-toe with some of the most powerful executives and she refused to give in. Let me tell you, this was a huge risk, but she knew it was a risk worth taking. That’s Kamala. That was the first time I witnessed Kamala in action and what I saw was a leader who does exactly what she says she is going to do. Who never will settle for less.”

Cooper lauded Harris for planning to lift up both the American middle class and stand by America’s allies abroad.

“America," he said, "we’ve got a lot of big fights ahead of us and we’ve got one hell of a fighter ready to take them on.”