Cooper emphasizes affordability during campaign stop in Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, now a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, weighed in Tuesday on the ongoing conflict overseas and its effect on local families as he campaigned in Fayetteville with a focus on rising costs and economic concerns.
Speaking to supporters at a packed event, Cooper expressed apprehension about the nation's exit strategy from the current war and its cascading effect on household expenses.
"I am concerned about the exit strategy of this war. I'm concerned about the cost that people are facing because of it. Not only more than a dollar a gallon in gasoline, but energy and transportation costs are going to affect the cost of goods all across the country," Cooper said.
Cooper, who will face Republican Michael Whatley in the general election, has made lowering costs for North Carolina families a central theme of his campaign. He highlighted his record as governor, including expanding Medicaid to more than 720,000 residents, and unveiled his "Make Stuff Cost Less" plan to tackle affordability as Americans continue to feel the pinch of high prices.
"It's clear that this administration in Washington needs to refocus on people here at home and the fact that stuff just costs too much, and they need to do something about it," Cooper said.
Republicans, however, pushed back on Cooper's claims. Matt Mercer, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, criticized Cooper's track record on affordability, stating, "I think it's laughable for Roy Cooper to say that he's trying to make things more affordable when under his watch, North Carolina had the highest health care cost of any state in the country."
Mercer pointed to GOP-backed initiatives, such as tax cuts for working families and the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, as evidence of Republican efforts to ease financial burdens.
"We have the working families tax cuts, which is putting more money in the pockets of North Carolinians with no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, no tax on Social Security, along with the Trump accounts for newborns, really setting families up for success," Mercer said.
Amid the economic debate, both candidates addressed national security and the ongoing conflict overseas. Cooper emphasized support for U.S. troops, saying, "I'm praying for the men and women who are part of our armed services. And we need to make sure that we support them in the battlefield and do everything that we can to protect them."
As the deadline nears to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, both Cooper and Republican leaders agree on supporting U.S. troops and hoping for their safe return.
