**Kamala Harris Visits North Carolina in Wake of Hurricane Helene, Campaigns for Early Voting**

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to meet with Black leaders in North Carolina this Saturday, visit a local church, and hold a rally on Sunday. This trip marks her second visit to the crucial battleground state following the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Helene, reflecting the Democrats' view of North Carolina as a potential electoral gain in November.

During her Sunday visit, Harris will participate in her campaign's "Souls to the Polls" initiative in Greenville, aiming to galvanize early voting efforts in the state. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26, resulted in approximately 230 deaths and significant infrastructural damage, including disruptions to roads, electrical power, and cell phone service.

Speaking to reporters before departing from Washington, Harris emphasized her focus on assessing the local situation and promoting her vision of an "opportunity economy." The Democratic presidential nominee had already visited North Carolina the previous week to pledge federal assistance and assess hurricane damage.

In addition to her Sunday morning church visit, Harris will engage with local Black elected officials, faith leaders, and community representatives at a Raleigh restaurant on Saturday. She'll also assist volunteers preparing hurricane relief supplies and later address economic issues at a rally aimed at bolstering support for early voting, which commences on Thursday.

The impacts of Hurricane Helene have stirred political controversy, with former President Trump accusing the Biden administration of mishandling the relief efforts. Trump recently criticized Harris at a rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, comparing the situation unfavorably to the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Despite criticism, Harris and her campaign continue to focus on issues such as preventing price gouging in the wake of the disaster. Harris emphasized her commitment to monitoring and penalizing unscrupulous practices at gas pumps, airports, and hotels. Additionally, she has dismissed claims from Trump and his allies that FEMA aid was misdirected away from hurricane victims to immigrants.

Harris has maintained a busy campaign schedule, even as she attended to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Georgia and participated in federal briefings. She has also campaigned in Nevada and Arizona, emphasizing her stance against inflation-inducing scams and advocating for comprehensive disaster relief.