Sen. JD Vance joins Harris, Walz in postponing Raleigh, NC stop due to tropical storm
Tropical Storm Debby has postponed another campaign event in North Carolina Thursday.
Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, postponed two news conferences he planned in Raleigh and Oakboro Thursday.
Vance’s event was intended to counter-program against Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as the pair crisscross the country beginning Tuesday after Harris made her vice president selection official.
But Tropical Storm Debby, which threatens to bring heavy rains, high winds and dangerous flooding to North Carolina, forced Harris and Walz to postpone their events in Raleigh on Thursday and Savannah, Georgia, on Friday.
Vance planned to follow Harris and Walz on their seven-city tour that also included Philadelphia, Detroit, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas.
Both campaigns have said they will reschedule their candidates’ visits but have not said when.
Thursday would have been Vance’s first time in North Carolina since being announced as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. It’s the second time weather has forced the Trump campaign to pull out of a North Carolina event this year.
The Republican Party has largely ignored the Tar Heel state during the 2024 election cycle. Trump secured the win in North Carolina in his 2020 race against President Joe Biden, with his smallest margin of victory at 1.3%
But Democrats have leaned into North Carolina, sending Biden, Harris and other surrogates into the state on a near-weekly basis.
Thursday would have marked the eighth visit Harris made to North Carolina since January and Walz’s first visit this year.
Walz was officially announced as Harris’ running mate Tuesday morning, after Harris became the Democrats’ presidential nominee Monday night.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 7:54 PM.