Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was caught on a hot microphone telling presidential candidate Joe Biden that they would drag disgraced Senate candidate Cal Cunningham across the line to win the Senate seat.
Cooper met with Biden during a campaign stop on Monday when reporters captured video footage of Cooper assuring Biden that Cunningham — who has had at least two affairs, according to conservative news site National File, citing multiple sources — would unseat incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis despite the “frustrating” scandal.
“Thanks for coming out, you didn’t have to do this,” Biden told Cooper.
“No I wanted to, I wanted to express my strong support for you, and I think we’re all going to get across the line,” Cooper responded. “I think Cal’s going to get across the line, too.”
Ouch ? Gov. Roy Cooper caught on a hot mic today telling Joe Biden they’re going to try to drag the disgraced Cal Cunningham across the finish line following his affair with the wife of a combat veteran.
“I know that’s frustrating, but we’ll get him across.” #NCsen #NCpol pic.twitter.com/ToUGBrG16P
— Joanna Rodriguez (@joannamrod) October 19, 2020
Biden’s reply is unintelligible, but Cooper can be heard saying: “I know that’s frustrating but we’ll get it across.”
Cunningham lost the endorsements of North Carolina’s two largest circulation newspapers, the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News and Observer, as a result of the scandal.
He is the first Democrat not to be endorsed by the Charlotte Observer in 22 years.
But despite the criticism he has faced over recent weeks, Cunningham’s poll numbers continue to remain above Tillis’s, although recent polls show the gap closing.
North Carolina Republicans believe these numbers will change closer to the election.
“I don’t think it’s been baked in yet,” Michael Whatley, the state GOP chairman, told Politico. “It’s going to be much more prevalent in voters minds shortly, and I think that will definitely move it.”
