Stein has campaign stops planned for the weekend, including one in Durham – ABC11 Raleigh-Durham

With 12 days left until Election Day, both presidential campaigns are making a big push for North Carolina.

It’s a state Democrats hope to flip for the first time since 2008, and they believe young voters and college students are a key part of that equation.

On Thursday, cheered on by a sea of ​​Blue Devils, Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz made a bet on North Carolina blue.

“What he’s going to win is each one of you encouraging someone to your better angels,” the Democratic vice presidential candidate told a crowd gathered in the Duke University student union.

With an early voting site on campus, Walz hoped students would go straight from the rally to the polls.

Waltz’s speech touched on some of the Democrats’ main points, such as change and reproductive rights.

Walz also weighed in on recent comments made by former President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly.

“(Trump’s) tendencies toward dictatorship are un-American,” Waltz said. “It’s absolutely appalling what they’re suggesting, but what I’m saying is, you know what’s great about that is he’s never going to be president again, he’s never going to be president.”

But before he left, Waltz, a former assistant high school football coach, had to go to where he felt at home.

“It really has a high school gym feel, it’s great,” he said entering Cameron Indoor Stadium.

He took a quick tour of the court and met with Duke men’s basketball head coach John Scheier.

And while this photo op may help retain Duke voters, the campaign also ensures equal opportunity. Doug Emhoff made an appearance in Tar Heel country this week.

Ending with some basketball bipartisanship, Emhoff posted on X “UNC and Duke students will always be rivals – but they both agree on one thing: vote for Kamala”

After leaving Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Walz headed to events in Greenville, followed by Wilmington, where he was scheduled to appear with musician James Taylor.