CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Millions of dollars have been raised and thousands of homes have been visited. The race for the 9th District will finally come to a close Tuesday.
[YOUR VOTING GUIDE: Everything to know before heading to the polls in the Carolinas]
Republican Mark Harris upset Robert Pittenger during the May primary election. He is taking on Democratic businessman Dan McCready.
All eyes are on the 9th District, which stretches from south Charlotte to Fayetteville. The race has gotten national attention and could determine which party controls the House.
Eyewitness News Reporter Joe Bruno was invited out with the candidates on Election Eve.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and North Carolina GOP Chairman Robin Hayes joined Harris for a pep talk for volunteers. Dozens gathered in a south Charlotte home to receive campaign literature, T-shirts and signs to pass out to voters.
(McCready and Harris)
“We are excited about where we are, cautiously optimistic,” Harris said.
Harris has been a well-known conservative fixture in Charlotte circles and points to President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, deregulation and Supreme Court justices as his biggest selling points to voters.
Nearly all of the polls have the race in a statistical tie, but Harris believes Republicans will be motivated to vote because of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings.
“That turn of events left a taste in the mouth of so many people,” Harris said. “I think the whole spirit of that event awakened a sleeping giant, if you will.”
McCready saw a surge in fundraising and turned a district Trump won by 12 points into a competitive race. Channel 9 was with McCready as he greeted canvassers at a Matthews field office.
“We are charging as hard as we can,” McCready said. “We are going to leave everything on the field.”
McCready and his team of thousands of volunteers said they have knocked on the doors of more than 34,000 people since last Friday. The first-time candidate said the top issue he is hearing about is health care. He is running as a moderate with a campaign motto of country over party.
“This is about everyone in North Carolina coming to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” McCready said. “We deserve better than what we are getting right now.”
Both candidates have received national support.
Trump held a rally for Harris and recorded a robocall for him. The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., held an early-voting rally for Harris Monday on Lumberton.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick campaigned for McCready as did South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Locally, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles recorded a radio ad for McCready.
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