Photo by Carla Peay/The Atlanta VoiceRALEIGH — At Union Hall in Raleigh, NC, there was a decidedly patriotic and religious theme to open the rally for Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican nominee for Vice President. The program opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of the National Anthem. There were remarks by Jason Simmons, the state GOP party chair, Trump Force 47 Captain Robert Gleason, and the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, Hal Weatherman, who talked about border security.When Vance took the stage, he fired up a crowd of about 1,000 supporters with a strong criticism of Kamala Harris and her record since becoming Vice President. Vance cited Harris’ lack of transparency with the media, her poor decisions on energy independence, and her unsuccessful policies to help strengthen the middle class.“Inflation has cost the average North Carolina family more than $30,000 since Kamala Harris took office,” Vance said. “Gas prices are 30 percent higher today than when Kamala Harris took office. And housing is completely unaffordable for many young Americans. We want our young families to be able to afford the American Dream of home ownership.”A line formed hours before Vance arrived for the campaign rally inside Union Hall in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.Photo by Carla Peay/The Atlanta VoiceVance described Harris as a ‘flip-flopper’ who has changed her stances on numerous issues since becoming Vice President, including de-funding the police, increasing regulations on American energy and solving the border crisis.“She could walk into this room right now and she could steal one of your red hats and put it on and say, ‘Make America Great Again’, because Kamala Harris is practically running on the Trump agenda right now,” Vance said.”Vance received cheers and chants from the crowd when he said that the nation’s energy problems could be solved with one simple plan – drill, baby drill.“She should stop talking about what she will do, because she has been in office for three and a half years and she hasn’t done a damn thing about it,” he said.But Vance’s most successful topic, judging by the enthusiastic chants of ‘USA…USA’ from the audience, was on the topic of border security and illegal immigration. Vance doubled down on his controversial statements regarding problems in the town of Springfield Ohio being caused by illegal immigrants, and how the citizens there no longer feel safe.“A lack of public safety and wide open borders make Americans feel less safe,” Vance said. “We have 25 million illegal aliens who are forcing Americans to compete for jobs and for housing. When you take the same number of houses and you force Americans to compete, that’s where the problem is.”Vance called illegal immigration a problem that is plaguing not just Springfield Ohio, but towns and cities across the country, but one that has a clear solution.  “In six months were going to solve that problem,” Vance said. “We’re going to tell them to pack their bags, because you are going home.”  Under a second Donald Trump administration, Vance said that mass deportations would begin, illegal immigration would stop, and that Trump would build the wall. He called solving the nation’s problems something that was not that complicated, as long as common sense ruled the day.  “If you work hard and play by the rules, you ought to be able to afford a good life,” Vance said. “Let’s get back to common sense and let’s get back to helping American citizens achieve the good life they deserve.” The post JD Vance goes on the offensive against Kamala Harris’ record during rally in Raleigh, North Carolina appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.