GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally at the Greensboro Coliseum September 12, 2024 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Harris held two rallies today in the state of North Carolina on the heels of her debate two nights ago with Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris made two stops in the battleground state of North Carolina, drawing thousands of cheering supporters to rallies in Charlotte and Greensboro in her first campaign events following a debate that that most observers say she won.
She sprinkled anecdotes from Tuesday’s presidential debate into her speech Thursday evening at the Greensboro Coliseum.
As she talked about keeping the Affordable Care Act, she had people laughing when she asked them to remember President Donald Trump’s response at the debate that he has “concepts of a plan” for health insurance.
“That means no plan,” she said.
Kamala Harris (Photo: Getty Images/Win McNamee)
Often, cheers from about 20,000 people packing the coliseum were so loud that the roar competed with the building’s sound system.
“Donald Trump refused to say he would veto a national abortion ban,” she said, recalling a sequence of debate answers. “When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as President of the United States, I will…” Harris said at past events she will proudly sign that bill into law. On Thursday, the crowd’s cheering made the line nearly inaudible in some sections of the building.
Both Harris and Trump campaigned in toss up states Thursday. Trump was in Tucson, Ariz.
At about the time that Harris was in North Carolina calling for another presidential debate, Trump was in Tucson saying he wouldn’t do one.
“Because we’ve done two debates and because they were successful, there will be no third debate,” Trump told an Arizona audience.
Trump and President Joe Biden debated in June. Biden dropped out of the race about three weeks after his shaky debate performance and endorsed Harris.
Trump maintains he won the debate with Harris, but polls say otherwise.
An average of three national polls compiled by 538 had Harris winning the debate 57% to 34%. One of three was a Republican-sponsored poll.
Trump said in Tucson that he looked angry during the debate because he is angry about illegal immigration.
The North Carolina Republican Party on Thursday released a statement blaming Harris for illegal border crossings.
Democratic presidential candidates have zeroed in on North Carolina for years, but for the last three elections the state has been a just-out-of-reach prize.
Barack Obama in 2008 was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state. Former President Donald Trump won North Carolina in 2020 by fewer than 75,000 votes out of more than 5.5 million cast.
Rally-goers Thursday sensed a shift in Democrats’ direction.
Tonya McDaniel of Forsyth County said Harris can win unaffiliated voters.
“I think that they will realize that she actually does have a plan and not a concept,” McDaniel said.
Brian Carter made the trip to Greensboro from Wake Forest to see if all the excitement about Harris that he was hearing about was real before he got his hopes up.
“It feels real,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting.”
He’s looking forward to the enthusiasm and energy surrounding Harris leading to a victory in November.
In a race that appears so close, campaigns are scrapping for every vote.
Gov. Roy Cooper introduces Harris at her North Carolina rallies. On Thursday, he sounded like a coach readying a team before a big game as he talked to the audience.
“Are we going to knock on doors? Are we going to make phone calls? Are we going to talk to our neighbors and friends?”
The crowd shouted ‘yes’ in response to every question.
“Let’s go get ‘em guys,” Cooper said before he exited the stage.