By: Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
On Friday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris made her latest appearance in North Carolina. This state has become a key battleground in the upcoming presidential election. The rally, which took place at Wake Tech’s Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence, marks Harris’s seventh visit to the state this year –sixteenth visit since 2021– as the Democratic campaign intensifies its efforts to sway undecided voters.
Harris’s frequent visits to North Carolina reflect the state’s pivotal role in the 2024 presidential race. Her previous stops in Greensboro and Fayetteville earlier this year had occurred in the lead-up to President Biden’s decision to step down from the race.
The rally featured several notable speakers. Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Shinica Thomas, NC Attorney General Josh Stein, and NC Governor Roy Cooper shared their perspectives on the challenges facing the state and the nation. Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams and a few NC state assembly members also attended.
“We have so much to be proud of here. Our talented workforce, our investments in innovation and technology are powering our state forward,” Cooper said. “We’re one of the fastest growing states in the entire country, but our economic success is not being evenly shared. Too many people are struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, and afford medicine.”
A central theme of Harris’s speech was the economic challenges confronting everyday Americans. She emphasized the need for an “opportunity economy”.
“We have created 16 million new jobs, we’ve made historic investments in infrastructure, CHIP manufacturing, and clean energy. New numbers from this week show inflation down to just under 3 percent. And as President of the United States, it will be my intention to build on the foundation of this progress,” Harris said.
“Still,” she continued, “we know that many Americans don’t yet feel that progress in their daily lives; costs are still too high, and on a deeper level, for too many people, no matter how much they work, it feels so hard to get ahead. As President, I will be laser-focused on creating opportunities for the middle class to advance their economic security, stability, and dignity. Together, we will build what I call an ‘opportunity economy’.”
Harris also aimed to address the cost-of-living issues that many Americans face, though Harris’s proposals lacked specific details on how these economic changes would be implemented, their costs, or the return on investment.
Harris outlined several key economic proposals, emphasized plans to lower drug costs, and took a critical stance on her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“And by the end of my first term, we will end America’s housing shortage by building 3 million new homes and rentals. ... While we work on the housing shortage, my administration will provide first-time homebuyers with $25,000 to help with the down payment on a new home,” Harris said.
Harris’ down payment assistance plan aims to make homeownership more accessible, which could drive up demand amidst an already significant housing shortage, estimated between 3 million and 7 million homes. To address this, Harris proposes tax incentives for builders to increase construction. Nonetheless, experts cite various reasons for the housing shortage, including restrictive zoning laws, high building material costs, and construction worker shortages—issues that tax incentives alone may not resolve.
Harris promises to streamline regulations to facilitate new construction, though much of this falls under state and local jurisdiction. Her proposal also includes expanding the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit, both of which align with broader Democratic goals.
Additionally, Harris addressed concerns about high prices and economic inequality, suggesting that her administration would continue progress on issues like insulin affordability and the fight against price gouging.
Outside the venue, around two dozen protesters waved Palestinian flags and held signs with messages such as, “Kamala Harris, there’s blood on your hands,” voicing their discontent with the administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza. After the rally, Harris visited Bayleaf Market in Raleigh, an art gallery and artisanal store.
Currently, the campaign operates 20 offices throughout North Carolina, with plans to open six additional offices next week in key rural areas, including Wayne, Wilson, Burke, Henderson, and Lenoir counties. Alongside Harris and Walz, these offices will focus on supporting Democratic candidates at all levels. Since Harris announced her presidential bid, nearly 12,000 new volunteers have joined the campaign.
Former President Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidential Nominee Senator JD Vance visited Asheboro on Wednesday to address national security issues, coinciding with the Democratic National Convention. Trump’s recent appearance in Asheville on August 14 centered on economic topics. Additionally, the Trump campaign opened a headquarters in Rocky Mount in late June.
Harris and Trump are in a tight race in the state, with Trump currently leading by 0.1% in polling averages. Harris and Trump are slated to debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on September 10.
