Harris rides post-debate momentum into North Carolina with raucous rallies and large crowds

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Riding high on momentum two days after the presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris was greeted by a deafening crowd here Thursday, eager to see the Democratic nominee push to the next phase of her campaign.

Harris told supporters it was time to turn the page from Donald Trump while again challenging the former president to a second debate, which she did earlier in the day at her rally in Charlotte.

“We owe it to the voters. Because here’s the thing: In this election, what’s at stake could not be more important,” she said.

On Thursday, Trump said he would not participate in another debate against Harris and complained that the ABC News moderators at Tuesday’s event were unfair.

In her remarks, Harris made the case that Trump would not respect the U.S. Constitution if he were re-elected, pointing to his assertion that he would be a dictator on Day One. She also noted that some of the highest-placed officials in his administration have since warned against Trump’s gaining access to the White House again.

“Put that all in the context of people who have been talking about how he was when they served with him in the White House, people who saw him every day, his national security adviser, his defense secretary, his chief of staff and his vice president, all, all of whom have warned America Donald Trump is not fit to be president,” she said as the crowd roared.

Harris turned out more than 17,000 people in this city of about 300,000 residents after she spoke to a crowd of 7,500 in Charlotte. The large audiences are positive signs for Democrats as they seek to turn North Carolina blue for the first time since Barack Obama won in 2008.

Before she arrived at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, a massive party was already underway. Thousands of people waved and jumped in unison to a DJ; later, some performed a line dance, while others linked arms and danced jubilantly.

After the second rally, Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said in a brief interview that Harris could turn the state blue, pointing to the explosive energy in the venue.

“There’s a reason why Donald Trump spent more money in August in North Carolina than any other state — because they’re panicking,” he said. “They know that Kamala Harris is at least tied or maybe even taking the lead in North Carolina. Donald Trump has no other path to the presidency. He must win North Carolina.

“We know that if Kamala Harris wins North Carolina, she is the next president of the United States,” he continued. “We did this in 2008. North Carolina voted for Barack Obama and made history. North Carolina is ready to make history again.”