In a recent episode of his podcast "Hacks on Tap," former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod stirred controversy with his remarks about the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina's voting landscape. As communities grapple with the devastating aftermath of the storm, Axelrod suggested that the ability of Trump supporters in rural areas to engage in the upcoming November election may be compromised. Meanwhile, he described Asheville, a liberal enclave in an otherwise red state, as a beacon of resourcefulness, predicting that its voters will navigate the challenges to make their voices heard at the polls. This article explores Axelrod's assertions and the broader implications of natural disasters on electoral participation, particularly in a state deeply affected by recent calamities.
Former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod argued that Trump supporters in North Carolina whose lives have been turned upside down by Hurricane Helene will be “too dumb” to vote in the November election.
Axelrod made the claim during an episode of his podcast “Hacks on Tap” that aired Wednesday, predicting that liberal voters in Asheville, North Carolina – a tiny blue dot in the red state – will find a way to vote while Trump supporters will fail.
On his podcast @davidaxelrod says Democrat voters in Asheville, North Carolina are smarter, wealthier and will still show up to vote for Kamala while he thinks Trump voters won’t. This is why Kamala and Biden aren’t helping, they benefit from the disaster: pic.twitter.com/CqCAY0An74
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 4, 2024
Describing Asheville as a “blue dot” in the state, he continued, “Those voters in Asheville are – they’re, you know, the kind of voters that will figure out a way to vote. You know, they’re upscale, kind of liberal voters, and they’re probably going to figure out a way to vote,” Axelrod said.
The former Obama adviser continued, stating that rural conservatives are definitely less intelligent and resourceful than “upscale” liberals in the city.
“I’m not sure a bunch of these folks who’ve had their homes and lives destroyed elsewhere in western North Carolina – in the mountains there – are going to be as easy to wrangle for the Trump campaign,” the political commentator hypothesized.
“I don’t know how that’s all going to play out, but it’s an unpredictable element in North Carolina that has made it, maybe a little more interesting,” he mused.
Communities in North Carolina – which Axelrod noted is the second-most rural state in the country – were hit especially hard by the effects of Hurricane Helene. Catastrophic flooding has destroyed roads and bridges, cutting off communities from getting much-needed aid.
More than 70 people are now confirmed dead in North Carolina, and hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, due to the lack of power and communication access.
As of Thursday, the death toll among the six states most affected by Helene – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee – sits at 170. Disaster-response teams fear that number will climb as they regain access to communities isolated by the storm.
David Axelrod is a prominent political strategist who played a key role in Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. His comments reflect a broader concern about how natural disasters can disrupt voting, especially in rural areas where access to resources and information may be limited. The context of Hurricane Helene, which has devastated communities in North Carolina, adds a layer of urgency to this discussion. Axelrod's labeling of rural conservatives as "less intelligent" is provocative and highlights the ongoing cultural divide in American politics, shaping how different demographics might respond to crises. This situation raises questions about the future of voter engagement in areas facing significant challenges.
David Axelrod is a prominent political strategist who played a key role in Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. His comments reflect a broader concern about how natural disasters can disrupt voting, especially in rural areas where access to resources and information may be limited. The context of Hurricane Helene, which has devastated communities in North Carolina, adds a layer of urgency to this discussion. Axelrod's labeling of rural conservatives as "less intelligent" is provocative and highlights the ongoing cultural divide in American politics, shaping how different demographics might respond to crises. This situation raises questions about the future of voter engagement in areas facing significant challenges.