President Obama said control of the Senate hinges on Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan keeping her seat in North Carolina.
“Right now the Democrats control the Senate, and if we lose North Carolina, we lose the Senate. And if we lose the Senate, that means the Republicans are setting the agenda,” Obama said Tuesday on Charlotte-based radio station WBAV 101.9 FM.
Hagan is running a tight race against Thom Tillis, the Republican House speaker for the North Carolina General Assembly. The race in the purple state is considered a toss-up.
Obama spoke to two other North Carolina radio stations in the past two days and encouraged voters to show up at the polls. Obama fashioned some his comments to minority voters — who tend to drop off in midterm elections compared with older white voters — in hopes of getting more people with Democratic leanings to the polls.
“Brothers need to take the responsibilities on this thing a little more seriously,” Obama, speaking of black voters, said Tuesday on Concord, N.C.-based WPEG 97.9 FM.
“There are no excuses, now’s the time to show that you care,” Obama added. “Don’t just sit in the barber shop and complain. This isn’t like a sporting event where you just sit back and provide commentary. You can play in this game.”
