Trump and Harris head to North Carolina in election campaign’s final weekend
MILWAUKEE – Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are due to hold rallies in North Carolina on Saturday, endeavouring to garner support in the southeastern battleground state just three days before Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election.
It will be the fourth day in a row that Vice President Harris and former President Trump visit the same state on the same day, underscoring the critical importance of the seven states likely to decide the race, which opinion polls show to be on a knife’s edge.
More than 70 million Americans have already cast ballots, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida. While this is below the record early-voting pace seen in 2020 during COVID-19, it still reflects a high level of voter enthusiasm.
Saturday also marks the last day of early voting in North Carolina, where over 3.8 million votes have been cast, although the western part of the state is still recovering from the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
Vice President Harris plans to campaign with rock star Jon Bon Jovi in Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, which, along with Georgia, has 16 Electoral College votes, making both states crucial targets in the race for the presidency, where 270 votes are needed to win.
Meanwhile, Trump will hold a rally in Gastonia, west of Charlotte, at noon (1600 GMT) before returning to the state for an evening event at the 22,000-seat First Horizon Coliseum arena in Greensboro.
It is noteworthy that North Carolina backed Trump in 2020 but elected a Democratic governor on the same day, giving hope to both parties.
