Kamala Harris touts her belief in ‘The Promise of America’ at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC – Fresh off of her speech at the Ellipse on Tuesday night in Washington D.C., Vice President Kamala Harris made another trip to Raleigh, in the battleground state of North Carolina. With less than a week to go until Election Day, North Carolina was also the campaign stop of former President Donald Trump, who held a rally in nearby Rocky Mount. According to nearly every national poll, the race is a dead heat, and the battleground states will decide it.  

On a chilly morning at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, several thousand supporters held an outdoor dance party while waiting to hear from the woman they hope will become the next President of the United States.

“She believes in all the things I believe in,” said Marla Dansky, who was wearing a ‘Vote – it’s a no brainer’ tee shirt.

“I am supporting her because of her policies,” said Katrina Ellis, who was wearing an identical shirt. “She believes in women’s rights, lower taxes for the middle class, healthcare. She has a very good resume, and I think she can provide what we need.”

Rounding out the trio was Kathy Roberson, also in a ‘vote’ tee-shirt, who said Harris is a qualified, black woman.

“She is the best candidate for the job,” Roberson said. The three women resumed dancing, along with most of the rest of the crowd.  

Among the guests on hand to introduce Harris were Raleigh mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, Congressman Wiley Nickel of the 13^th District, State Senator Dan Blue, and Governor Roy Cooper.

Also on hand was Josh Stein, the popular Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor. Nearly every local and national poll shows Stein with a double-digit lead over his challenger, the Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson.  

“Our freedoms are on the line this November,” Stein said. “Kamala Harris’ vision is forward thinking. Together, we can build a better, brighter future for all of us. We choose hope over hate, competence over chaos, diversity over division.”

Harris took the stage to a thunderous standing ovation and opened her remarks by asking for the votes of North Carolinians.

“If you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as your President, there is nothing that will stand in my way.”

Harris continued to tout her ambitious agenda: making the cost of living more affordable, ban price gouging, build more affordable housing, provide tax cuts for more than 100 million Americans, and cover the cost of home care for the elderly under Medicare.

“In less than 90 days, one of us will be sitting in the Oval Office,” Harris said. “If it’s Donald Trump, he will come in with an enemies list. If it’s me, I will come in with a to-do list.”

She also reiterated her commitment to reproductive freedom, saying if Congress passes a bill to restore women’s rights, she will proudly sign it into law.

“We know who Donald Trump is,” Harris said. “He wants to end the Affordable Care Act. He wants to keep people with pre-existing conditions from being covered. He wants to enact a national sales tax. And he hand-picked three Supreme Court Justices so they could overturn Roe v. Wade. Regardless of what your personal beliefs are, the government should not be making that decision for you.”

Drawing a further contrast between herself and Donald Trump, Harris said that she would give people with different opinions than herself a seat at the table.

“I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy,” Harris said. “I pledge to be a President for all Americans. I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions to the challenges you face.”

Harris closed by making a connection to regular Americans, saying that she believes in the promise of America because she has lived it – and made a targeted appeal to conservatives and undecided voters to put country over party.

“I fight for ideals of freedom and opportunity,” Harris said. “I believe in values like community, compassion, and faith. We’re here together because we love our country. And when you love something, you fight for it.” 

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