Presidential candidates in North Carolina / Trying to win support

2024-11-04 16:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

North Carolina is one of seven so-called swing states that could determine the winner of the presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and their associates spent a lot of time campaigning in this state located in the southern part of the United States. African-Americans make up 22 percent of the population, and according to VOA correspondent Rafael Saakov, they could decide who wins South Carolina's 16 electoral college votes.

On the eve of Election Day, former Democratic President Barack Obama went to North Carolina to campaign for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. He won the state in 2008 and this election cycle wants to make sure Ms. Harris wins.

"I'm here for a very important reason, to ask you to vote for your next governor and for the next president of the United States, Kamala Harris!" said former US President Obama.

Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, has supported Democratic candidates in the last five presidential elections. Over a third of the city's residents are African-American, but not everyone is focused on the same issues as they prepare to vote.

"The main issues for me are women's rights to make their own decisions about their bodies, as well as issues related to sexual orientation and the rights of the LGBTQ community. And of course, as an African-American, it's important to me that human rights are protected...," says resident Taylor Marshall.

"It's important to me that there's concern for the underclass — there's a lot going on, like tax cuts and impunity for police officers for their treatment of young African Americans, and that's not fair," he says. another Charlotte resident, who was identified as Jasmine.

"What are the important issues? For me the cost of living is very important, the way we live. To make the cost more affordable for us", says Tanya.

At the Democratic Party's Mecklenburg County branch in Charlotte, the campaign team told VOA that as of Oct. 24, about 31 percent of African-American voters had cast ballots. The Democratic Party organizer for this district, Leah Smart, says she has talked to African-American voters who voted for both candidates.

"Some people feel that their vote is being taken for granted, that it is not being valued enough and that they are not being asked for the support that they think they should be asked for. A good part of our work here in this county is focused on changing this situation," she says.

The Charlotte branch of the Republican Party declined VOA's request for an interview.

But Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance stopped here recently to seek the African-American vote.

"In a way, this election will essentially determine whether Christians will have the opportunity to live by the teachings of their religion, to seek the application of the principles of their religion, and whether Christians will be allowed to raise children and build communities according to their values," said Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance.

It has historically been difficult for Republicans to win the support of African-American voters. Former President Trump won just 8 percent of the African-American vote in 2020, but some polls show he is gaining more support from this community this election cycle.

And the religious message resonates with some African-American voters in North Carolina, the vast majority of whom identify as Protestant or evangelical Christians.

"The nature of the people in North Carolina is and always has been tied to Christian religious identity. Mr. Trump conveys the principles of the Bible in many cases," says the resident of North Carolina, Martin Jackson.

During the speech in Charlotte, Mr. Obama underlined that no president can completely eradicate racism or solve all problems, but politics, depending on which side people decide to choose, can improve or worsen people's lives./ VOA