Kamala Harris talks early voting and finding common ground at Raleigh campaign rally

Speaking to a crowd of hundreds in Raleigh, Vice President Kamala Harris said former President Donald Trump has tried to keep Americans divided. It’s time for a new chapter, she said, driven by unity rather than blame and fear. 

“We know that is who [Trump] is,” Harris said. “But North Carolina, that is not who we are.”

With less than a week before Election Day, Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and other political officials joined Harris in a rally at Coastal Credit Union Music Park on Wednesday encouraging North Carolinians to vote early. 

By 9 a.m., Harris supporters from across North Carolina were starting to take their seats and dance to the campaign’s pre-show playlist, which included ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A” and Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” Many attendees snapped blue buttons onto their jackets, sported camouflage Harris-Walz baseball caps or even wore woven sweaters with Harris’ face. Harris began her speech around 12:45 p.m.

In her speech, she drew comparisons between herself and Trump and said she’d fight for hardworking Americans by finding common ground across the aisle. Harris said if she’s elected, she will enter into office with a to-do list, not an “enemy list.” 

“I am not looking to score political points, I am looking to make progress,” Harris said. 

Jude Grove-Malaney, a sophomore at N.C. State University who attended the rally, said her vote for Harris was a vote for progress and hope. She also said Harris’ stance on reproductive rights was a factor in who she cast her ballot for. 

Jen Gilmore and Jen Matthews, who traveled from Fuquay-Varina to see Harris in Raleigh, said they were excited to hear Harris speak about reproductive healthcare.  

“I have a daughter and I want her to have the same rights as I do,” Matthews said. 

Harris said at the rally that if Congress passes a bill restoring reproductive freedom, she will sign it into law. 

“One does not have to abandon their faith or their deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be making that decision,” she said. 

Another rally attendee Laura Benedict, from Raleigh, said she would love to hear Harris speak about the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Someone close to her is still an undecided voter because of the Democrats’ support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, she said. 

During Harris’ speech, a man entered the press area and began to shout to Harris that she’d disrespected the Palestinian community. In response, the crowd cheered over him and chanted Harris’ name. 

In August during the Democratic National Convention, Harris said she will always support Israel’s right to defend itself and that the scale of suffering in Gaza is “heartbreaking.”

Near the end of his speech in Raleigh, Cooper said all Americans can count on Harris to fight for them until the very end. 

“We have a lot of challenges facing us over the next four years, and I’ll tell you what,” Cooper said. “We have one hell of a fighter ready to take them on.”

Some North Carolinians at the rally said they are nervous about the results of the presidential race. 

Rally attendee Debra Williams said she thinks comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist remark calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at Trump’s rally in New York last Sunday will tip the scales. 

“I don’t really see how its a tight race, to be honest with you,” she said. 

Gilmore also said she was baffled that the contest between Harris and Trump is so close. She said she’s anxious, but hopeful. As of Oct. 30, most national polls show Harris leading Trump slightly, within one percentage point. 

Early voting ends on 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Before then, you can cast your ballot at any of the early voting sites in your county, and register to vote at the same time if you need to. You must bring an accepted photo ID to cast your ballot. 

@lucymarques_

@DTHCityState | city@dailytarheel.com

Editor's note: The Daily Tar Heel's City & State desk covers Orange County and state news out of Raleigh. The Trump-Vance campaign hasn't recently held a political rally in our coverage area. 

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