GASTONIA, NC — Donald Trump will rally supporters in North Carolina every day leading up to Tuesday’s election, a late flurry of activity in the only swing state he won in both his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

Even as Trump tries to expand the electoral map and project power with trips to New Mexico and Virginia, two Democratic states not considered competitive, he is investing heavily in North Carolina, which last supported a Democrat for president in 2008.

The former president’s path to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency becomes significantly more complicated if he loses North Carolina. The fast-growing Southern state gave Trump his narrowest margin of victory — 1.3 percentage points — over Democrat Joe Biden four years ago.

Trump campaigned in Gastonia, west of Charlotte, and Greensboro on Saturday, with a stop in Salem, Va., in between. He will be in the eastern city of Kinston on Sunday and in Raleigh on Monday. Those four rallies will bring his total in North Carolina since Oct. 1 to nine. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has been to the state six times in the same period, most recently on Friday.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival, was also in North Carolina on Saturday for a concert and rally in Charlotte. Her campaign has not announced any other trips to the state before Election Day, although she is sending her husband, Lt. Gov. Doug Emhoff, to Greenville on Monday.

The extensive damage from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina has created a dose of uncertainty about the current state here. Flooding destroyed homes and displaced residents in several counties, including the liberal city of Asheville and the conservative rural areas surrounding it.

Trump’s team said it was confident in his chances in North Carolina. Democrats see Trump’s focus on the state as a sign of optimism for Harris.

“The repeated appearances may signal that Trump’s campaign is in trouble,” said Democratic state Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham. “If Trump continues his dangerous and violent rhetoric in recent days, he may be back. A campaign of personal revenge does not win votes from the people.”