Trump coming to Raleigh's Dorton Arena, other NC sites in final swing through battleground state

Donald Trump is all-in in North Carolina.

With just days until Tuesday’s election, the former president has visits planned for the state on Saturday, Sunday and Monday — including an event at Raleigh's Dorton Arena.

Trump's North Carolina schedule:

Recent polls indicate the presidential race between Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is tied in North Carolina, which has 16 electoral votes. Trump carried the state in 2016 and 2020. Political analysts believe Trump needs to win the state to win the presidential election.

Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer said North Carolinians will see a flurry of activity this weekend from both campaigns.

"They are recognizing how much one to two percentage points could potentially have huge consequences in the electoral outcomes in this state," Bitzer said. So "they're checking the couch cushions, they're checking the floor mats in the cars. They're literally trying to find anybody and everybody who has not voted yet."

Trump and Harris have visited North Carolina frequently in recent weeks. Trump was in Rocky Mount on Wednesday. Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance is scheduled to hold an event in Selma on Friday.

Harris, who visited Raleigh on Wednesday, plans to hold an event in Charlotte on Saturday.

More than 3.8 million voters have cast a ballot in North Carolina, nearly 50% of all registered voters. Saturday is the final day of in-person early voting. The economy is one of the top issues for voters, but there are big differences among Republicans and Democrats on the importance of other issues.

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