Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Raleigh to talk about the economy
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Raleigh Friday to discuss her plans to bolster the economy and prevent price gouging, a campaign official told McClatchy.
Her visit will be her eighth this year to North Carolina, which is considered a battleground state in the presidential election.
No further details have been announced.
The Democratic candidate for president and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were scheduled to visit Raleigh as part of a tour of swing states. But they were forced to postpone due to Tropical Storm Debby. The powerful storm dumped rain, spurred up 10 tornadoes and left four people dead in North Carolina.
A new date for a rally has not been rescheduled.
Harris’ visit will follow former President Donald Trump’s visit to Asheville on Wednesday. There, the Republican nominee plans to discuss how the Biden administration has harmed North Carolinians with prices that “are excruciatingly high,” and a cost of living that “has soared.”
This marks a rare visit for Trump to North Carolina in a year that has included a rally in Charlotte and his attendance at a NASCAR race in Concord.
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, also was scheduled to visit Raleigh last Thursday to speak with media, but the weather postponed the trip. A visit hasn’t been rescheduled.
Presidential candidates & the economy
Inflation remains a key issue for voters, and both candidates plan to address it in their respective visits.
Since June 2023, the national inflation rate has consistently been between 3-3.7%, with July figures set to come out on Wednesday. As of Friday, North Carolina’s inflation rate was 3.4%, according to the Joint Economic Committee.
Harris addressed this in a recent trip to Detroit, saying: “We believe in a future where we lower the cost of living for America’s families so they have a chance not just to get by but to get ahead. Because, look, while our economy is doing well by many measures, prices for everyday things like groceries are still too high. You know it, and I know it.”
On Friday, voters will hear from Harris that tackling inflation and price gouging are among her “Day One” priorities.
At Trump’s visit to Harrah’s Convention Center in Asheville, he is expected to discuss how inflation has harmed North Carolinians.
He also is expected to address his plan to ban taxes on Social Security, a decision that some experts told CNBC could threaten the program’s benefits and add to the country’s debt. Trump’s campaign said he also will discuss his plans to protect both Social Security and Medicaid.
