WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Governor Tim Walz delivered remarks at a Harris-Walz campaign rally in Wilmington on Thursday, Oct. 24.

You can view the full rally below:

Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance made a stop in Port City a week ago, but this time it was Walz’s chance to make his own pitch to voters.

“We are eternal optimists, we believe in this country, we believe in the promise, we believe in our neighbors,” Walz said. “We’ve just got to go out there and fight for it.”

Walz arrived in Wilmington around 5:15. He quickly made his way over to Winnie’s Tavern to meet with veterans ahead of his rally.

Once he got to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, he was introduced by Mayor Bill Saffo, Governor Roy Cooper and a coach from Laney High School. Walz spoke for close to half an hour on a variety of hot topics in this election cycle, from reproductive rights to gun violence and the economy.

Walz also reiterated his belief that a second Trump presidency would be dangerous.

“I’ve been saying it and you’ve been feeling it,” Walz said. “You’ve seen it over the past few weeks. Hell, we’ve seen it over the last nine years but certainly the past few weeks. This is a straight-up descent into madness. Here’s the deal, that just means we need to beat him at the ballot box.”

Walz ended his remarks by encouraging people to early vote and also help get their friends and family to the polls.

“All of these rallies, all these door knocks, all these phone calls, all the money people donate to this, all comes down to translating and turning those efforts into one little sticker that we need to put on more people: ‘I voted,’” Walz said.

The rally ended with a performance by North Carolina native James Taylor who was joined by his wife and son. He sang a few songs including “Carolina In My Mind.”

It’s clear that Carolina is in the minds of both presidential campaigns with less than two weeks to go until election day.

First Lady Jill Biden and Former President Barack Obama will be in the state Friday. On the Republican side, JD Vance will also be in North Carolina on Friday.

Ahead of the event, people spoke about what they anticipated.

“We are looking forward to James Taylor as well. That’s the icing on the cake really. But I am really looking forward to hearing Coach Walz speak he is a powerful speaker, we love his enthusiasm, he is full of kindness and joy, he’s the guy next door,” said Doreen Dohrmann, a rally attendee.

Representatives from the New Hanover County Democratic Party weighed in saying recent visits from political candidates show how important North Carolina is in the upcoming election.

“North Carolina has become a battleground state. And you know, Governor Cooper recently said to me that all eyes in the country are watching North Carolina. But all eyes in North Carolina are watching New Hanover County, because what happens here will dictate the whole ballot,” said Jill Hopman, Chair of the NHC Democratic Party.

“Tim Walz probably has a difficult time connecting with people from Southeastern North Carolina. Frankly, I’d imagine he has a difficult time connecting with people in general. Putting tampons in the boys’ restrooms at school is not normal. Nobody is waving their arms harder for your vote than Tim,” Nevin Carr III Chair of the NHC Republican Party said in a statement.

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