‘He’s built skylines.’ Thousands crowd into Bojangles Coliseum for Trump’s Charlotte rally

Joanne Myers and Lindsay Merritt stood together under a tree near the entrance to the Bojangles Coliseum in anticipation of former President Donald Trump’s rally in Charlotte.

They didn’t come to the rally together, but started chatting while trying to find shade from the sunshine and 90-degree heat. Myers and Merritt, like many rally attendees, told The Charlotte Observer Vice President Kamala Harris is no match for Donald Trump in November.

Harris has become the likely Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday. Enough Democratic delegates endorsed Harris to win the nomination during the Democratic National Convention next month.

Harris is only running her campaign on negativity and putting Trump down, Myers said. Without tons of money and a creative campaign, the win will easily be Trump’s, she said.

“She’s never done anything,” Myers said. “(Trump’s) built corporations, he’s built skylines.”

Myers and Merritt were two of thousands of people outside the arena anticipating remarks from the former president. Nearly every attendee was wearing some form of Trump merchandise: from stickers on their clothes to faux hair resembling the former president’s. Even with the heat and sun glaring down, the energy circling the arena was palpable.

By early afternoon, the line to enter the arena stretched far into the parking lot. Some attendees told the Observer they arrived before 9 a.m. Some people drove just down the road to the rally, while others traveled from another country. For some, it was their first Trump rally. Others have been longtime attendees.

The parking lots around the coliseum filled to capacity shortly after 2 p.m., Bojangles Coliseum announced. The venue also announced that attendees filled the arena to capacity — nearly 11,000 people

The Observer spoke with over a dozen attendees as they waited in line. Most were not threatened by Harris’ new status as the likely nominee, and many feel a connection to Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance.

Here’s what they said.

Harris’ entrance, Biden’s exit

Jeremy Bottoms, a rally attendee from Charlotte, spoke with the Observer around 1:30 p.m, as he waited near the back of the line. He said Trump should “invite Harris into this race.”

He said one of Harris’ strengths is her tight grip on policy issues that the Democrats care about, including abortion. But she’s “radical” and “to the left” of Biden, Bottoms said.

Tadgh Ormond, who lives in London, traveled to Charlotte to see Trump speak at the rally. He said Harris is more articulate than Biden, but Trump will still win easily.

Harris’ biggest weaknesses come from her time as attorney general, Bottoms said, specifically “bragging” about giving out drug charges, Bottoms said, referencing an oft-repeated criticism that she was too harsh on people for drug charges. Scott Maser, from Matthews, said more people need to consider Harris’ “disgraceful” record as attorney general.

He also said President Biden should have dropped out three years ago, and he thinks Biden has lived a privileged life — not one of the average American.

“He has no idea what it’s like to punch a clock or change a tire,” Maser said. “He lives in a fantasy land.”

J.D. Vance and Roy Cooper

Merritt, a first-generation college graduate who worked her way up to a doctoral degree and now works as a principal in Stanly County, said she can relate to J.D. Vance’s story. Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, and joined the Marines before graduating from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He wrote about his upbringing as well as life in Appalachia in the popular book “Hillbilly Elegy.”

For Myers, Vance is a likable VP pick who meshes well with Trump.

“He’s just so pleasant, it seems like he just wears a smile,” she said.

Vance’s background, accomplishments, Catholic religion and connection to the Rust Belt all make him a great addition to Trump’s ticket, Bottoms said. Instead of making himself a “victim” after enduring a tough childhood, Vance joined the military and had a successful career in business, he said.

Maser said some people are concerned about Vance’s relatively limited political inexperience, but he thinks Vance’s time in the Marines proves he has a personal investment in the country.

“He’s a young guy, he came from nothing,” Maser said. “I’d take a bullet for him.”

When asked about the speculation that Gov. Roy Cooper may be Harris’ vice presidential pick, Merritt said she doesn’t think Cooper is “VP quality,” partially because of low teacher pay and the state of public education in North Carolina.

“I could not imagine him on a national level,” she said.

Assassination attempt on Trump

The attempted assassination of Trump earlier this month in Pennsylvania brought more awareness and security around who’s coming to rallies, Ormond said. He said God will protect Trump until the election.

Merritt said watching the assassination attempt on TV with her children was one of the scariest things she’s ever experienced. But, she said her kids wanted to come to the rally, and she felt protected by event security.

The attempt also built unity in the Republican party because of Trump’s resilience, she said.

Randy Setzer, a Hickory resident who arrived at the rally at 10 a.m. said he wasn’t too concerned with event security.

“It’s in the back of your mind, but it’s worth the risk to support him, because he supports us,” he said.