Harris-Walz campaign holds rally in Charlotte with Barack Obama | WFAE 90.7

On Friday night, several officials and state representatives attended a Democratic rally at the Charlotte Convention Center with former President Barack Obama in an effort to court voters in the last 10 days before the election.

Obama supported current vice president and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, encouraging early and mail-in voting.

North Carolina is a key swing state, and the last time the state fell was in the 2008 election during Obama’s election. Harris is also trying to make history in a state that could decide this year’s election.

Obama was introduced by former Carolina Panthers defenseman Thomas Davis. During his speech, Obama stressed to those gathered that they must both vote themselves and prepare their friends and family to vote.

He also mentioned a comment GOP state superintendent candidate Michele Morrow made on X four years ago as a reason he’s closely watching the North Carolina elections.

“Apparently the Republican nominee has been spreading conspiracy theories and thinks I should face a firing squad,” Obama said.

While the focus was on the presidential race, Obama also urged voters to pay attention to the governor’s race and vote for Josh Stein.

Before Obama took the stage, several officials spoke, including Johnson C. Smith University President Valerie Kinloch, Gov. Roy Cooper and Stein, who is now attorney general.

Many of them urged those in the room to go to the polls immediately as the elections approached. So far, Black early voter turnout is down compared to this point four years ago, although direct comparisons are difficult because the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted voting patterns in 2020.