Vice President Kamala Harris visited Greensboro for a rally Thursday evening just two days after her debate with former President Donald Trump.
With less than two months before election day, Martha Nesselrode, a life-long Republican, waited in line outside of the Greensboro Coliseum to attend the event 鈥� her first Democratic rally since making the switch.
鈥淲e listened to the debate this week, and we are just totally sold,鈥� Nesselrode said. 鈥淪he's our gal.鈥�
She, her daughter, and granddaughter joined more than 17,000 others for the rally. Several attendees said they felt more excited and optimistic about the election than ever before, like Sara Howard from Browns Summit.
鈥淚 love it. I鈥檓 so excited,鈥� Howard said, wearing a shirt that read "Childless Dog Ladies Against Fascism." 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been this energized since Obama to be honest.鈥�
Bill Haverland, 78, from Raleigh said he was surprised at how quickly he and others took to Harris as the Democratic nominee.
鈥淵ou know, I expected Joe was going to step down and there was going to be a big fight, and I didn't know about Kamala,鈥� Haverland said. 鈥淏ut I've watched her. She's a hot ticket. She's terrific.鈥�
North Carolina Central University student Breyannah Caseres came to the rally with a couple of friends. They鈥檒l be voting in a presidential election for the first time this year.
鈥淚 mean, this is monumental,鈥� Caseres said. 鈥淭his is going to be our first woman president. Like, let's just say that now.鈥�
Attendees said their top issues in this election were abortion rights, education, social, economic and racial equality, and preserving democracy.
Across the street from the coliseum, a small group of pro-Palestine protesters held up signs and chanted, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Saied Fayar, one of the demonstrators, said this issue will be keeping him from voting for Harris.
鈥淣ever. She doesn't deserve any vote for free people who should choose better option,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e cannot go with monopoly politician, either Democrat or Republican. We need third party, fourth party even.鈥�
When Harris took to the stage, she shared her plans to increase affordable housing, support abortion rights and cut taxes for the middle class. She also spoke about her debate with former President Donald Trump which took place two days prior.
鈥淚t was the same old show, same old tired playbook we've heard for years, with no plan for how he would address the needs of the American people,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淲ell, folks, look, it's time to turn the page.鈥�
Still, she called herself the 鈥渦nderdog,鈥� and said the election was going to be tight.
鈥淵our voice is your vote, North Carolina,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淎nd you are going to make all the difference in the outcome of this race.鈥�
Other speakers including Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and Congresswoman Kathy Manning also highlighted the importance of the state in the presidential race.
This rally marks Harris鈥� ninth visit to North Carolina.
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