Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to hold simultaneous rallies in North Carolina on Wednesday, as recent polling suggests a close contest in the battleground state.
Harris is scheduled to address the crowd at 12:30 p.m. EST in Raleigh, just moments before Trump is slated to speak in Rocky Mountain at 1 p.m. EST.
The back-to-back rallies, occurring just six days before Election Day, will occur at venues approximately 60 miles apart.
North Carolina has already seen nearly 3.2 million early votes cast as of Tuesday, accounting for 40.7% of the state's registered voter population, according to the State's Board of Elections.
A recent Marist Poll survey, conducted from Oct. 17-22, revealed that Trump holds a 2-percentage point lead over Harris among likely voters in North Carolina, with a margin of 50% to 48%.
The same survey indicated Trump's advantage among Independent voters, with 53% supporting him compared to 42% for Harris.
Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, noted the significance of North Carolina's 16 Electoral College votes in the race to reach the 270 threshold, emphasizing the state's potential impact on the election outcome.
Another poll by Quinnipiac University, conducted from Oct. 10-14, showed Harris slightly ahead of Trump by a margin of 49% to 47%, with Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver receiving 1% of the vote.
Both campaigns have been actively campaigning in battleground states, with a particular focus on North Carolina and its 16 crucial electoral votes.
