North Carolina’s Republican Governor Pat McCrory is in the fight of his political life right now against State Attorney General Roy Cooper. Unfortunately, recent polling has not looked good:
- CNN/ORC (8/18-8/23): Cooper 52, McCrory 46 (Cooper +6)
- Monmouth (8/20-8/23): Cooper 52, McCrory 43 (Cooper +9)
McCrory, of course, is known nationally because he signed HB 2, the so-called “bathroom bill.” For a refresher on HB 2, be sure to check out Jane Robbins’ helpful write-up from back in May. HB 2 was passed in response to a Charlotte ordinance that would have allowed biological men to join women in public showers, changing rooms, and bathrooms.
Sexual zealots on the left have coordinated with corporations and media elites to slander McCrory over this bill. And to be honest, judging by the polling so far, it has worked.
But McCrory is not going down without a fight. McCrory released two campaign ads this week. One of them, discussing “teacher pay,” was released publicly on his YouTube channel. The other ad, which has not been posted online, addresses HB 2 and is now airing on television in North Carolina.
The campaign rolled out a second ad with no announcement or discernable social media push. That ad features a sexual abuse survivor and slams Attorney General Roy Cooper, who is running against McCrory, for not defending House Bill 2, a measure which, among other things, requires transgender individuals to use the bathroom corresponding with their birth gender.
The ad goes on to praise McCrory’s efforts to defend House Bill 2 against a federal lawsuit.
The ad features a woman named Gina Little, who was abused by a teenager when she was a young girl:
Here’s the transcript:
At nine, I was molested by a teenager. When I found out that President Obama and Roy Cooper want to force school children to share the same locker rooms, shower, and restroom with someone who claims to be the opposite sex, I was horrified. Governor McCrory knows this is not about discrimination, money, or politics. He’s standing up for us under extreme pressure and doing what’s right. Our Governor is on our side.
HB 2 is proving to be a defining issue in the North Carolina gubernatorial race. Let’s hope this ad helps McCrory retake the lead.
Jon Schweppe is the Communications Director for American Principles Project. Follow him on Twitter @JonSchweppe.
