North Carolina has gone for Republican presidential candidates in every election since 1968 except two: Carter, the Southerner who won it in 1976 by a big margin, and Barack Obama won it by a hair in 2008. So far, polling in North Carolina has this once hardcore red state becoming a true swing state, with Barack Obama polling ahead of Mitt Romney by a few points fairly consistently.
If you need more convincing that North Carolina is now no longer a red state but a swing state, just read what RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said today:
RNC Chairman Reince Preibus
(Creative Commons/Gage Skidmore)
Calling North Carolina "ground zero" in the presidential campaign, Republican national chairman Reince Priebus said Tuesday that his party's grass-roots effort will beat Democrats "across the board" in the state. Priebus spoke at the opening of a Charlotte “Victory headquarters,” one of four such offices opening across the state.
Obama for America, which has operated in North Carolina since 2008, has opened 15 campaign offices across the state.
...
Priebus, in his first public visit to Charlotte, said North Carolina Republicans would “have what they need.” “We’re prepared to spend more than we’ve ever spent before; let’s put it that way,” he said.
There is good reason to believe this isn't the usual pablum national party chairs give to state parties. President Obama will be nominated in Charlotte and the Obama Campaign, as you can see above, is playing to win the state.
This is the first election I can recall that the GOP has had to spend money to win North Carolina. George W. Bush didn't even bother to campaign there, winning it twice by big margins. Even Bob Dole won it against Bill Clinton. If the GOP is having to "spend more than we've ever spent before" on North Carolina of all places, then this election is already heavily tilted in favor of President Obama. "Ground Zero" needs to be a lot further north for Mitt Romney to win.