Trump comes to NC to help Whatley, who's lagging in polls

• Cooper has an 11% lead over Whatley in the latest Elon University Poll.

Driving the news: Trump is scheduled to speak at 7pm at Gastonia Municipal Airport.

• Expect traffic delays and soft road closures starting around 10am, according to Gastonia police. Roads will be shut down in the area, especially around Union Road and Gaston Day School Road, beginning around 5:30pm and into the night.
• Police are advising people to avoid the area altogether in the afternoon or evening or take another route.

What they're saying: A single event is unlikely to significantly alter the course of this race, but the rally will still catapult Whatley's name into the news cycle, says Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University with no relation to Roy Cooper.

• "At the end of the day, people need to know who you are to get the majority of the votes," Cooper says. "That remains Michael Whatley's biggest problem."

Catch up quick: Trump handpicked Whatley to chair the RNC and quickly endorsed him to run for the seat currently held by Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who chose not to seek reelection after clashing with Trump.

• Whatley says he would be an "ally" to the president, despite Trump's low approval rating.

What's next: Trump could make another visit to North Carolina in the next 50 days leading up to Nov. 3, given the number of competitive and consequential races here, Chris Cooper expects.