Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held his final North Carolina campaign rally in Dorton Arena on Monday, less than a day before before Election Day.
Trump and the speakers before him stressed corruption more than anything, citing “lawlessness” and double standards in the federal government, especially the alleged corruption of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
“Hillary Clinton is the most corrupt person ever to see the office of President of the United States,” Trump said.
Trump’s lack of experience in elected office has been a major part of his platform, and he frequently cited it during his speech.
“I’m not a politician, I can say proudly,” Trump said. “My only special interest is you.”
Trump’s supporters hold his “outsider” status in high regard, and they echo his belief that political corruption is a rampant problem in Washington, DC.
“The most important thing to me, he’s not one of them,” said Sanford resident Charles Brance, an NC State alumnus who attended the rally. “People need to get out and vote, and they need to assist in people like Hillary getting justice.”
Throughout the event, the crowd roared with chants of “Lock her up,” in reference to Clinton, and “Drain the swamp,” a phrase that Trump’s campaign uses as a metaphor for eliminating political corruption.
“This election will decide whether we are ruled by a corrupt political class — you’re seeing what’s happening, everybody’s watching — or whether we are ruled by the people,” Trump said.
Among the corruption that Trump and other speakers referenced was media corruption, with accusations that media outlets are not accurately reporting the success of Trump’s campaign.
“It’s time to reject the media and political elite that has bled our country dry,” Trump said, pointing toward the media section of the event. “These are among the most dishonest people. They don’t give you the truth, folks.”
Many supporters of Trump wore shirts and buttons that labeled them as “Adorable Deplorables,” embracing a negative comment that Clinton made about at some Trump supporters. Gov. Pat McCrory spoke before the crowd, ironically calling many of his policies related to job growth and tax cuts “deplorable.”
“Deplorable is protecting the basic common sense definition of gender,” McCrory said.
Signs reading “Women for Trump” decorated the crowd behind the podium, and speakers addressed the common perception that most women support Clinton.
“I see a lot of women here today, but I’m confused,” said Lara Trump, the Republican candidate’s daughter-in-law. “I thought women didn’t vote for Trump.”
Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, also known as Diamond and Silk, are two North Carolina-native YouTube personalities and vocal Trump supporters who spoke at the rally.
“It’s not about ovaries in the Oval Office, it’s about who has the balls to build that wall,” Richardson said.
Statewide elections were also highlighted, with Rep. Mark Meadows, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and candidate for attorney general Buck Newton speaking in support of Trump and vice versa.
Meadows greeted the crowd, “Hello deplorables,” and he led the crowd in chanting “Drain the swamp.”
“We cannot be saying the words ‘President Clinton,” Newton said. “We’re going to be calling her by her other name: Inmate Clinton.”
Sue Googe, a businesswoman and Republican candidate for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, attended the rally and campaigned outside the arena.
“This is a very historic election,” Googe said. “I am representing the new voice and a new direction of this country, because we need new wisdom. We need to find a new way to dig us out of this hole.”
Trump closed his speech with a refrain of his famous campaign motto.
“If we win tomorrow, we will be able to make America wealthy again, to make America strong again, to make America safe again and to make America great again,” Trump said.
