Harris and Trump swing through North Carolina with less than a week of campaigning left

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• Geoff Bennett:

  Welcome to the "News Hour."

  The race for president ran through the Tar Heel State today.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both rallied in North Carolina, one of the crucial swing states that could secure a victory in next week's election.

  In Rocky Mount, North Carolina, former President Donald Trump urged voters to send him back to the White House.

  Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: This election is the choice between whether we will have a — four more years, think of this, four more years of gross incompetence.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Continuing to sow doubt about the security of the election.

• Donald Trump:

  I'm hearing all sorts of stories. We're not going to have the result by Tuesday night. We spend all this money on computers. If you go back to paper ballots — and it's watermarked. Paper is now very sophisticated, believe it or not.

• Amna Nawaz:

  In fact, the vast majority, over 97 percent of votes cast in this election, will be recorded on paper, the head official in charge of U.S. cybersecurity and infrastructure told the "News Hour" recently.

  Jen Easterly, Director, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: First, got to remember election infrastructure, the voting systems where Americans cast their ballots not connected to the Internet, so very difficult for somebody to hack into those voting machines. Secondly, over 97 percent paper ballots that voters can look at and verify themselves.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris made her case in North Carolina's capital, Raleigh.

  Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: We have just six days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. And we have work to do.

• Amna Nawaz:

  In Washington, D.C., last night, a crowd in the tens of thousands gathered to see Harris deliver her closing arguments on the White House Ellipse lawn, the same place Trump gave his infamous January 6 speech.

• Kamala Harris:

  We know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election.

  (Cheering)

• Amna Nawaz:

  Harris painted Trump as a threat to democracy and vowed to represent all Americans.

• Kamala Harris:

  These United States of America, we are not a vessel for the schemes of wannabe dictators.

  (Cheering)

• Kamala Harris:

  The United States of America is the greatest idea humanity ever devised, a nation big enough to encompass all our dreams, strong enough to withstand any fracture or fissure between us, and fearless enough to imagine a future of possibilities.

  So, America, let us reach for that future.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Trump made his closing arguments with a large rally at New York's Madison Square Garden last Sunday, an event later criticized for racist and sexist rhetoric throughout, including a comedian calling Puerto Rico a — quote — "floating island of garbage."

  Trump responded to the criticism last night on FOX.

• Donald Trump:

  They put a comedian in, which everybody does. You throw comedians in. You don't vet them and go crazy. It's nobody's fault. But somebody said some bad things.

• Amna Nawaz:

  President Biden also weighed in on a Zoom call with Latino supporters last night.

  Joe Biden, President of the United States: The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization is unconstitutional. And it's un-American.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Later clarifying he was referring to the comedian's rhetoric, not Trump voters.

  Today, Harris distanced herself from his remarks.

• Kamala Harris:

  First of all, he clarified his comments. But let me be clear. I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for. And as president of the United States, I will be a president for all Americans, whether you vote for me or not.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, echoed that message in Charlotte, North Carolina.

  Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Vice Presidential Candidate: We can choose a path that includes everyone, that is hopeful, that adheres to the American values, or we can get dark, negative and sink into a place that's all about one person, Donald Trump. That's the choice.

• Amna Nawaz:

  But the Trump campaign pounced, with Senator J.D. Vance saying Harris and Biden should be ashamed of themselves.

  That too comes in the context of a pattern of coarse and insulting language from Trump.

• Donald Trump:

  Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way. We can't stand you. You're a (Expletive) vice president.

  (Cheering)

• Amna Nawaz:

  Including these remarks today about Democrats.

• Donald Trump:

  These are the most corrupt, horrible people. These are horrible people. Oops, we should get along with everybody. They're horrible people.

• Amna Nawaz:

  With less than a week of campaigning left, both candidates will travel to Wisconsin tonight. Harris will speak to supporters in Madison, while Trump rallies in Green Bay.