More than 5,500 people filled Reynolds Coliseum to capacity as another 2,000 waited in line outside late Monday night for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s final campaign stop in North Carolina, just hours before the polls opened on Election Day.
The rally came shortly after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a campaign event in Dorton Arena on Monday afternoon, where he stressed what he believed to be Clinton’s corruption.
Many people were excited about seeing Clinton less than 24 hours before America’s next president will be elected, including Karina Patel, a senior studying business administration.
“It’s going to be such a great honor to see her and be able to look back on this in 20 years and say that I got to be here on the night before election night,” Patel said.
The rally began with a rousing speech and prayer from the Rev. Miniard Culpepper.
“Lord we need your spirit to move across the State of North Carolina,” Culpepper said. “We need your holy hands to cast a holy vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton.”
Clinton’s slogan is ‘Stronger Together,’ an issue that is particularly important to Asaf Ravid, a senior studying accounting. While not a citizen, he said he would support Clinton if he could vote.
When asked what the most important issue in this election is, Ravid said, “uniting the country.”
“We have become so polarized in the past [few years],” Ravid said. “We’re all here with good intentions.”
Dan Blue III, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, urged the crowd to vote for unity.
“You are going to determine whether our conversations will bring us together or tear us apart,” Blue said. He also made a tongue-in-cheek reference to an insult that Trump said of Clinton, calling her a “nasty woman.”
“I call this nasty woman ‘president of the United States of America,’” Blue said.
Roy Cooper, North Carolina attorney general and Democratic candidate for governor, addressed recent political turmoil in the state that has made national news.
“On Nov. 8, we’re going to show them what’s going on in North Carolina,” Cooper said. He criticized Gov. Pat McCrory for “putting political ideology ahead of the best interests of the state.”
Art and Cynthia Morris, Raleigh residents and NC State alumni, voiced their support for Cooper and Clinton.
“It seems like most of the conversations are the same nationwide,” Art said. “There are some problems, like the coal ash problem, like [House Bill 2] that have arisen, and they’ve been similar issues to the rest of the country.”
Lady Gaga took the stage as well, giving Clinton her endorsement and performing “Come to Mama,” “Bad Romance,” “Born This Way” and a new song, “Angel Down,”which focused on the current political and racial climate in the U.S.
“She kept fighting for women’s rights,” Gaga said, referring to Clinton. “She kept fighting for the care of our children, she kept fighting for the care of those in need. And the truth is, Hillary Clinton has done this for her entire career.”
After her performance, Gaga introduced Jon Bon Jovi, and the two performed Bon Jovi’s song, “Livin’ on a Prayer,” before welcoming the Clinton family, Hillary, Bill and their daughter Chelsea.
“I ask you not to quit until the polls close,” Bill Clinton said.
Hillary Clinton was greeted by the crowd chanting “I believe that we will win.”
Clinton urged the crowd to vote on Election Day, telling the audience members to “Go find someone else who hasn’t voted.”
Clinton also mentioned local races, encouraging the crowd to vote for Democratic Senate candidate Deborah Ross, Blue, Cooper and Linda Coleman, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
“If you believe that we should never write discrimination into our laws,” Clinton started, referencing the controversial House Bill 2, “You know, North Carolina, that you’ve got to vote to get rid of HB2.”
Clinton urged for “an America, where we build bridges not walls.”
Trump’s actions and temperament were called into question many times during the rally.
“It’s not just my name or Donald Trump’s name on the ballot, it’s the kind of country that we want,” Clinton said, adding that “we’ve never had a clearer choice.”
Riley Ferguson, a freshman studying physics and mathematics, addressed Clinton’s scandals and compared them to her opponent’s.
“There are certain things that Trump has not said sorry for,” Ferguson said. “At least she is being adamant that she is apologizing for her mistakes.”
These criticisms were echoed by Matthew Knowles, a freshman studying economics at Duke.
“I’m a registered Republican who voted for Clinton, so I’m here to see if I cast my vote wisely,” Knowles said. “Donald Trump is a disgusting human being, from start to finish.”
During the rally, Clinton also brought up the issues of women’s rights and equality.
“My opponent says whenever I talk about these issues that I’m playing the woman’s card,” Clinton said. “Well you know what I say, ‘Deal me in.’”
This rally was not entirely without opposition. Eric Lowe, a freshman studying biology stood outside the doors of Reynolds Coliseum with a sign reading ‘Gays for Trump’ for several hours.
“I’m very much not a fan of Hillary Clinton,” Lowe said. When asked whether or not the election is rigged, as Trump claims, Lowe said “It’s not directly rigged, but it has been indirectly rigged by the media. I think that’s what Trump means by this.”
Back inside Reynolds Coliseum, the atmosphere was completely different.
“If we are true Americans, then we must go from viewing [Trump’s] followers as our adversaries to viewing them as our allies,” Gaga urged.
Similarly, Clinton expressed that she wanted to be the president for “all of America.”
“She’s had a 30 year career fighting for children, fighting for those who are vulnerable and marginalized, and fighting for our children’s futures,” said Mark Jewell, a schoolteacher from Greensboro and the president of the North Carolina Association of Educators.
Jonathan Carter contributed to the reporting of this story.
Jon Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton stand on stage in support of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during her midnight rally held in Reynolds Coliseum Monday evening.
