WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former Vice President Joe Biden threw his hat into the ring Thursday, becoming the 20th Democratic candidate in the race for president. Biden enters the race as a front-runner, leading many early polls nationwide.

  • One election analyst says North Carolina could be a good primary state for Biden
  • Analysts also say to keep an eye on African American voters who will be key for Biden's chances in the state
  • North Carolina's primary is slated for March 3, 2020

But how might he fare in the North Carolina Democratic primary? One election analyst says North Carolina could be a good primary state for Biden, provided he remains a viable candidate up until election day.

Kyle Kondik, the managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, says keep an eye on African American voters. They will be key to Biden's chances in the Tar Heel state. He says Biden polls well with African-Americans, in part due to his more centrist message. But in a crowded field, it is unclear if they will stick with him.

"If there is a candidate who can begin to dominate among the African American vote, that’s a path to winning states like North Carolina, South Carolina, which comes early on in the calendar, and much of the rest of the south," Kondik said. "The south including North Carolina could end up being something of a king-maker in this race."

Kondik says another group to watch is more conservative white Democrats. They could form part of a coalition to support Biden in North Carolina. Biden launched his campaign Thursday morning in a video posted online. His opening pitch was largely an attack on the current president.

"If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation," Biden said in the video.

Kondik says Biden's message reminded him of Hillary Clinton in 2016, who focused a lot of advertising energy on saying Trump is unfit for office.

"Biden’s video was a general election style video. I think it was aimed at moderates in general, but also the sort of moderate Republicans that he’s going to want to bring to his side in the general election," he said.

 

 

Already, at least one North Carolina lawmaker has weighed in on Biden's candidacy. Rep. Mark Walker, R-6th District, tweeted a not-so-subtle jab, alluding to how this is Biden's third attempt at the Oval Office. Biden first ran for president in the late 1980s.
 
 
North Carolina's primary is slated for March 3, 2020, which is Super Tuesday when voters in several states across the country go to the polls. With 10 months between now and then, the presidential field and the polls could shift considerably.