Over 17,000 people attended Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally in Greensboro

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Greensboro for a rally Thursday night, just two days after her debate with former President Donald Trump.

Less than two months before Election Day, lifelong Republican Martha Nesselrode stood in line outside the Greensboro Coliseum to attend the event—her first rally for the Democrats since switching voters.

“We listened to the debate this week and are totally convinced,” said Nesselrode. “She is our girl.”

She, her daughter and her granddaughter attended the rally along with more than 17,000 others. Several attendees said they were more excited and optimistic about the election than ever before, like Sara Howard of Brown’s Summit.

“I love it. I’m so excited,” said Howard, wearing a T-shirt that read “Childless Dog Ladies Against Fascism.” “To be honest, I haven’t been this energized since Obama.”

Bill Haverland, 78, of Raleigh, said he was surprised at how quickly he and others accepted Harris as the Democratic candidate.

“You know, I expected Joe to step down and there would be a big fight, and I didn’t know about Kamala,” Haverland said. “But I’ve been watching her. She’s a hot candidate. She’s great.”

Breyannah Caseres, a student at North Carolina Central University, came to the rally with a few friends. They will be voting in a presidential election for the first time this year.

“I mean, this is monumental,” Caseres said. “This will be our first female president. Let’s just say that.”

Participants said their most important issues in this election were abortion rights, education, social, economic and ethnic equality, and the preservation of democracy.

Across the street from the Coliseum, a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters held signs and chanted calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Saied Fayar, one of the protesters, said the issue would keep him from voting for Harris.

“Never. It doesn’t deserve a vote for free people who should choose a better option,” he said. “We can’t work with a politician who has a monopoly, neither Democrats nor Republicans. We need a third party, even a fourth.”

As Harris took the stage, she shared her plans to create affordable housing, support abortion rights and cut taxes for the middle class. She also talked about her debate with former President Donald Trump, which took place two days earlier.

“It was the same old show, the same old, tired script that we’ve heard for years, with no plan for how he would address the needs of the American people,” Harris said. “Well, folks, look, it’s time to close the chapter.”

Nevertheless, she described herself as an “outsider” and said the election would be close.

“Your vote is your vote, North Carolina,” Harris said. “And you will make a difference in the outcome of this race.”

Other speakers, including Governor Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and Congresswoman Kathy Manning, also emphasized the state’s importance in the presidential election campaign.

This rally marks Harris’ ninth visit to North Carolina.

This article first appeared on WFDD. For more WFDD coverage, visit wfdd.org.