NC GOP office firebombed, vandalized

HILLSBOROUGH — A North Carolina Republican Party office in Orange County was firebombed late Saturday night causing major damage to the building. The vandals left a blunt message, spray painting “Nazi Republicans, leave town or else” on a nearby building. Luckily, no one was harmed in the attack as volunteers and staff had already left for the night.With little more than three weeks to go before election day, get out the vote operations are in full swing across the battleground state with staff, volunteers and activists often working late into the night to convince potential supporters to remember to cast their votes in the presidential election and down ballot races. “Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, all Americans should be outraged by this hate-filled and violent attack against our democracy,” said Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party.”Whether the bomb was meant to kill, destroy property, or intimidate voters, everyone in this country should be free to express their political viewpoints without fear for their own safety. We will be requesting additional security at all Republican Party offices and events between now and Election Day to ensure the safety of our activists, volunteers, and supporters,” he said.Woodhouse also said that they will not be intimated by this “political terrorism.” Their plans to finish the last three weeks of the campaign season canvassing and running get out the vote operations across the state, including Orange county, remain in place.Gov. Pat McCrory, in his own tight race against Democrat challenger Attorney General Roy Cooper, called it an attack on our democracy.Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted in response to the attack:Animals representing Hillary Clinton and Dems in North Carolina just firebombed our office in Orange County because we are winning @NCGOP— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2016
Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton condemned the attack, calling it horrific and unacceptable. The 2016 elections have become particularly heated as controversial candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are neck and neck with mere weeks before election day. Evidently, that heat is scorching in North Carolina, as it is a critical swing state in not only the presidential election, but also sports tight races for governor, attorney general, and a U.S. Senate seat. Orange county, a bastion of democrat strength in the state, typically goes blue every four years. This story will be updated as more information becomes available