Even though recent polls in the battleground state of North Carolina have shown the two candidates in a virtual tie, money has not stopped moving around in the state. Both President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney have collected an impressive amount of money in this state that has been categorized as 'leaning Republican'. But to rely on the amount of money raised alone,Obama would take the state by a landslide, as he raised more than $1.1 million here in September alone, while Romney pulled in less than $500,000.

But as the president, Obama has an advantage that Romney does not. The incumbent usually is favored, and has an easier time fundraising. And according to Jeff Colbert, a political science professor, campaign contributions are not necessarily related to how a state will vote. Colbert is quick to remind us that North Carolina has a long established history of voting Republican in presidential elections, and suggests that the state voting for Obama in 2008 was a fluke. Democrats are quick to argue that win was a signal that North Carolina could be a swing state for elections to come, but Colbert disagrees. He says that the high unemployment rate in North Carolina is on the minds of all voters, and that statistic will likely tip the scales in favor of Romney.

NC deadlocked, but donations to presidential candidates flowing freely - Pendulum