North Carolina Democrats anticipated former President Trump’s visit  “peddling conspiracies” and stoking fear,” by gathering ahead of the rally to “express concerns about Budd’s vote to overturn the 2020 election results last year” and “urge voters not to support them or other candidates who believe the 2020 election is stolen.”

As Budd continues to lean into Trump and the far-right wing of the Republican Party, some analysts say it’s a “double-edged sword.” The Associate Press noted yesterday that Budd was not distancing himself from the GOP’s “most controversial policies and people,” as he’s campaigning with Trump and “leaning into support for abortion restrictions.” 

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WWAY: NC Democrats voice concerns ahead of ‘Save America’ rally in Wilmington

• Dozens of state and local democrats gathered at 1898 Memorial Park, in opposition to the platforms and ideals of Representative Ted Budd and former President Donald Trump ahead of Friday’s “Save America” rally.

• The North Carolina Democratic Party donning the phrase “This Budd’s Not for North Carolina” on the podium at a news conference.

• They all expressed concerns about Budd’s vote to overturn the 2020 election results last year.

• “Congressman Budd and North Carolina Republicans standing with Trump today, are a direct threat to our democracy, and if elected, will continue to put the American values that so many veterans fought for in danger,” said Marcia Morgan, District 7 candidate for N.C. Senate.

• They also spoke against his response regarding the insurrection of the country’s capital on January 6.

• “The violent attacks on our capital on January 6, showed us that our democracy is not guaranteed, but Ted Budd, –he called it nothing, he said it was just patriots standing up,” said Amy Block Deloach, candidate for N.C. House District 20.

WRAL: Trump throws support behind NC Republicans at Wilmington rally

• Prior to the rally, a small group of Democrats gathered to protest Trump’s Wilmington visit. Democrats called out Trump and Budd — urging voters not to support them or other candidates who believe the 2020 election is stolen.

• “We cannot let our state and our country be dragged down by dangerous politicians to hold onto power, even if it costs them our democracy,” said Amy Block Deloch, who is running for House District 20.

ABC11:

WBTV: Former Pres. Trump to speak at ‘Save America’ event Friday in Wilmington

• The Democratic party of North Carolina recently unveiled a billboard highlighting what they call Trump’s “attacks on democracy.” That billboard is located by the entrance of the Wilmington airport and includes quotes from Budd calling the January 6th insurrection “nothing” and “just patriots standing up.” 

CBS 17: Analyst says Trump’s visit for rally in Wilmington is ‘double-edged sword.’ Here’s why

• Noting how the former president remains a “divisive figure,” Meredith College political analyst David McLennan said the rally is a “double-edged sword” for Budd and other candidates.

WRAL: Trump peddles conspiracies, stokes fear, as Republicans hope for election turnout boost

• Political consultants on both sides acknowledged Trump as a double-edged sword. He remains a major draw for Republicans, but Democrats raised funds off the visit and trumpeted it as if they’d planned it themselves, hoping GOP candidates appearing with Trump — most prominently U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, are tied to him in the voting public’s mind.

• Morgan Jackson, who consults for most of the top Democrats in the state, called Trump “the most motivational force in modern political history.” He also called him “the largest unifying, motivating factor in turning Democrats out.”

• Beasley spokeswoman Dory MacMillan said Budd “realizes he is losing this election and is trying desperately to pull out all the stops to salvage his flailing campaign.”

• “But voters know that he is too extreme for North Carolina with his career of undermining our democracy and even now refusing to commit to upholding this year’s election results,” MacMillan said in a text message.

• In recent weeks multiple media outlets have asked Budd, who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, whether he’d commit to accepting this year’s election results. At least three times his campaign declined to say. Then he told WRAL News at a campaign event that it was a non-issue.

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