GOP’s Vance coming to Raleigh, his first visit to NC since Trump picked him as VP
Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, is coming to Raleigh on Thursday, and had hopes of counter-programming against Vice President Kamala Harris who also had a campaign stop scheduled that day.
The Trump campaign announced Monday that Vance plans to deliver remarks to the media at 9 a.m. Thursday at Raleigh Union Station. Later on Thursday, he will visit the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. in Oakboro. An exact time was not released.
Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were also expected to hold a campaign event in Raleigh, part of a larger multi-city tour to battleground states. But the threat of Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding, prompted the Harris campaign Monday night to postpone Thursday’s visit.
Vance’s event marks the first time he has visited North Carolina since becoming the Republicans’ vice presidential nominee. North Carolinians haven’t seen much campaigning from the Trump campaign this election cycle, though Trump held a rally in Charlotte on July 24.
A news release from the Trump campaign said that Americans are suffering from Harris’ policies and are struggling to pay for their basic needs.
“President Donald Trump and Vice Presidential Nominee, Senator JD Vance are devastated to see North Carolinians and all Americans struggle because of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and woke Democrat activists,” the news release said.
Vance visiting same cities as Harris
Harris announced Walz as her running mate Tuesday morning after considering a large group of contenders. Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly were among those under consideration, and several met with Harris in Washington, D.C. and virtually over the weekend.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was initially on the list of potential running mates but withdrew his name, saying it was not the right time.
Harris is still scheduled to go to Philadelphia, Detroit, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas. One of Harris’ last stops, in Savannah, Georgia, has been canceled due to Tropical Storm Debby’s predicted path through the Southeast.
Vance will visit many of those same cities as well to speak to the media: Philadelphia, Detroit and Eau Calire.
Democrats have been laser-focused on flipping North Carolina blue in this year’s presidential election. The state captured the smallest margin of victory for Trump in 2020 with 1.3%.
But it is rare for a Democrat to win North Carolina having happened only once, in 2008, since 1976.
