US Election: CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — When Democrat Kamala Harris arrived in North Carolina on Saturday, she saw an unusual sight: the red, white, and blue jet of her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
As Harris stepped off Air Force Two at Charlotte International Airport, she spotted Trump’s private Boeing 757 parked nearby. This close encounter highlighted how both contenders focus on a few key states where a single vote will decide Tuesday’s US presidential election.
The candidates made campaigns in the same state for the fourth consecutive day. Only seven states, including North Carolina, are considered legitimately competitive.
Harris was going to a rally in Charlotte, the state’s largest city, while Trump had just finished campaigning in Gastonia, a suburb.
It was unclear if Trump was aboard his jet when Harris arrived.
With the election only three days away, Trump and Harris adhered to recognizable themes throughout their public appearances.
Trump promised to deport millions of immigrants if elected and threatened that if Harris won, “Every town in America would become a squalid, hazardous refugee camp.”
Harris, campaigning in Atlanta, warned Trump would misuse his position if he returned to the White House.
“This person becomes more unstable, concerned with enmity, obsessed with frustration, and the man is out for uncontrolled power,” she told me.
According to the Election Lab at the University of Florida, more than 72 million Americans have already voted, falling short of 2020’s record early voting speed during COVID-19 but showing strong voter interest.
Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer reports that voters have already cast about 4 million ballots in North Carolina, and western counties hit by Hurricane Helene are voting at rates similar to those across the rest of the state. Trump criticized the federal response, claiming officials diverted funds to assist immigrants instead of supporting North Carolina
He also stated that inhabitants of the United States’ suburbs, which have long been considered a safe haven from crime and other risks, are under attack.
“The suburbs are under attack right now. When you’re at home alone and a monster released from prison for murdering six different people is out there,” he added. Last year, violent crime rates fell in the United States. However, Trump and his backers have highlighted crime during the campaign and incorrectly blamed immigration.
In 2020, North Carolina supported Trump by less than 1.5 points while electing a Democratic governor, boosting optimism for both parties. Trump planned a rally in Salem, Virginia, despite the state’s low likelihood of supporting him, before heading to Greensboro, North Carolina, for a late event.
Policy Discrepancies
Johnson altered his words on Friday, stating that the legislation will be simplified to minimize requirements.