I agree with this post, but I disagree with the notion that NC is a "lost hope"
Dems still got very favorable swings out of the metros like Charlotte and Raleigh, more than they probably could've asked for.
However, unlike states like VA, CO, and GA, the state still has notable countertrends due to how dense the western appalachian part of the state is, keeping the shift relatively neutral overall. A state like Colorado on the other hand is almost entirely urban/suburban communities, many of which have high educational attainment.
If you snipped off everything West of Charlotte, NC would actually be nearly identical to VA politically, geographically, and demographically.
It is entirely possible Republicans have reached their limit in growing Appalachia and urban shifts overpower it. It's also possible we start to see countershifts within urban areas causing the state to shift right as a whole. I do think NC will eventually begin to swing one way or another though as the narrow balance that has kept it's shifts neutral are unlikely to continue forever.
The swings which prevented NC from voting for Biden weren't concentrated in the Western part of the state:
Interesting. Resembles the largest shifts to Youngkin being in Southside VA, not Appalachia.
