As Annika Aristimuno, president of the Duke Democrats, introduced Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz to the audience gathered to see him speak at Duke University on Thursday, she said that this election runs through North Carolina.
The Harris-Walz campaign has been active in the state this past week with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and the vice president's sister, Maya Harris, visiting various spots around the Triangle on Tuesday, ending the night of campaigning at Cat's Cradle.
The Carrboro venue was filled with students and community members in support of a Harris presidency, and Emhoff spoke primarily to young people about the importance and impact of this election, urging them not to sit on the sidelines.
“Don’t fall for Donald Trump, people, especially young people — he is not your friend,” he said.
Sloan Duvall, president of the UNC Young Democrats, introduced Emhoff, and in her speech to the crowd she said that she has heard from many of her peers who are excited to get involved. She said young people are excited to vote because they believe Harris is the only candidate who will support people's rights and freedoms.
She also said that there is "so much attention on our state this election," noting that North Carolina is leading the way in early voter turnout.
During Walz’s visit to North Carolina on Thursday, he stopped at The Bryan Center on Duke University's campus to relay similar messages about early voting and the pivotal role that young North Carolina voters have in this election.
“This is a time when a lot of people need to be reminded about what's at stake here,” he said.
