Sen. JD Vance, the Republican candidate for vice presidential, is traveling to Raleigh next week to talk about the effect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have had on the economy.
A news release from the Trump campaign said the speech will focus on how the economy has affected North Carolina families and farmers from the price of groceries to the housing market.
Wednesday’s visit marks Vance’s second visit to the state in two weeks.
Former President Donald Trump announced he had chosen Vance as his running mate during the Republican National Convention. Since then, Vance has made two other visits to the state, once with Trump in Asheboro on Aug. 21 and on Tuesday for a private fundraiser in Greenville.
North Carolinians have seen more visits from the Harris campaign since the start of the campaign season, with near weekly trips from her or her surrogates. Trump has been a less frequent visitor.
Despite North Carolina being considered a battleground state, Trump’s campaign didn’t have a lot to worry about when he was running against Biden. Trump nearly always polled ahead in North Carolina, sometimes by double digits.
But after Biden withdrew his candidacy following a poor debate performance in June, and endorsed Harris as his successor, the Trump campaign began to refocus on the Tar Heel state.
Trump began holding more rallies in North Carolina as Harris pulled even then began leading in polls.
This week, Quinnipiac University showed Harris up by three percentage points, though that was still within the margin of error.
It is rare for a Democratic presidential candidate to win North Carolina. It’s happened only once since 1976, when former President Barack Obama won the state in 2008. But Democrats have put a lot of time and energy into North Carolina this election cycle and Gov. Roy Cooper has repeatedly said he has “a 2008 feeling” about Harris’ chances.
North Carolina also had the smallest margin between Trump and Biden of any state Trump won in 2020.
Vance will appear at 3 p.m. at Union Hall on Martin Street in Raleigh. Those wanting to attend can register for tickets here.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
