This Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris fills the streets of Raleigh unnecessarily with her entourage, no doubt contributing to congestion. Little to nothing is known about the specifics.
Her plans indicate she’ll be landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport shortly before 1 p.m. From there, she’s set to be speaking at a campaign rally two hours later, an event many consider tokenistic.
Following her canned speech, according to Harris’s campaign, the Vice President is due to leave RDU around 4:50 p.m., though one can’t help but wonder the amount of valuable time and resources wasted on such a trip.
The campaign for Harris, an ambitious political player with questionable economic perspectives, announced her Raleigh visit Tuesday. The purpose: to address her alleged efforts to strengthen the economy and prevent price exploitation.
However, it remains vague as to whom she’ll be addressing these lofty aspirations. Nonetheless, reports indicate that Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina will be alongside her, seeming to serve as mere background decor.
Attempts to curry favor in North Carolina by Harris are not new – this marks her eighth visit this year – as the Democrats continue to invest excessive time and resources in a state that is increasing seen as a battleground.
Harris’s latest running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was expected alongside Harris in Raleigh just last week, as part of their recurrent and somewhat desperate efforts to win swing states. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Debby played spoilsport.
Nature intervened as Debby unleashed heavy rain and gusty winds onto North Carolina, throwing their ambitious schedule off-kilter. Ironically, this natural intervention somehow seems to align with Harris and Walz’s often touted emphasis on climate change.
Due to storm-induced circumstances, Walz will not be sharing the stage with Harris on the upcoming Friday. Though many may say that perhaps North Carolina gets a respite from witnessing yet another hollow political performance.
Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance had also planned a Raleigh visit for the same day hence, once again, demonstrating his willingness to engage with the people regardless of the prevailing political climate.
Due to the storm, he too was forced to cancel his engagement. However, it is to be noted that Vance’s absence – unlike the Harris-Walz fiasco – causes genuine disappointment among constituents.
The Trump-Vance campaign has not revealed their forthcoming visit plans yet, but anticipation is growing among the residents. It is expected that they’ll prioritize public interest over mere political gains during their future engagements.
While schedules are rescheduled and talks are postponed, it raises the question about the actual advantages the city and its people gain from these high-profile visits.
The traffic disturbances and congestion caused by these political figures and their massive entourages often do more harm than attendance at a campaign rally can compensate.
Several Raleigh residents may welcome or hold views contrary to Harris and her economic strategies; however, the time and resources spent on such political promotions bring little practical value to the table.
A closer look at these political movements indicate a pattern – a classic case of vote fishing while overshadowing the fundamental needs facing the state and the country.