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GREENVILLE — Marsha Lyndell and Shenelle Howard met each other in the long winding line, waiting to get into Minges Coliseum on the East Carolina University campus to see Vice President Kamala Harris Sunday afternoon.

The venue, which has 8,000 seats, was full and there were more people than seats.

People got in line as early as 10:30 a.m. Harris spoke for 24 minutes around 4:20 p.m. But those who came did not seem to mind waiting for hours and they sang and danced as they waited.

Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, spent much of the weekend talking to North Carolina residents about her plans for the country, if she is elected president. North Carolina is one of seven states that have almost equal support from both parties, making them battleground or swing states. Harris and former President Donald Trump have concentrated a lot of their attention on these states, campaigning heavily as Election Day approaches on Nov. 5.

It turns out, both Lyndell and Howard wanted to hear Harris speak so they could, hopefully, figure out who to vote for in the November election.

Lyndell, a lifelong Republican, voted for Trump the first time he ran, in 2016. She voted for Biden in 2020 and is unsure what to do this time around.

"I am not happy with Republicans and the things they are willing to say. I don't know when my party got so extreme in their views. No decency," she said. "I am not happy with Democrats, either. I just don't know what to do."

Howard, a lifelong Democrat, said she no longer believes Democrats will keep their promises.

"There are heads of households here who still make $8 an hour and have the same burdens anybody else has, but not enough money to live," she said. "There is no housing for the working poor and many of them are African-American women. Nobody speaks to us, but they want our vote."

If they do not hear what they need, both Lyndell and Howard say they may not vote for anyone for president but will vote on the rest of the candidates down the ticket. For example, both favor Democrat Josh Stein over Republican Mark Robinson in the governor's race.

It is the undecided voter like Lyndell and Howard that can turn North Carolina and other swing states either blue or red.

As Harris spoke, she began by talking about how the damage from recent hurricanes is a nonpartisan issue, saying her prayers are with everyone who has been impacted by the storm.

"I am focused on those states and those officials, both Republican and Democrat, to let them know we will be with you every step of the way," Harris said. "In times like this, we stand together as one nation. That is who we are."

She warned the enthusiastic crowd, the race to the presidency will be a tight race.

"We have hard work ahead of us, but we love hard work," Harris said. "We will win."

Harris took the time to point out the differences between her and Trump, her Republican opponent, saying their visions are very different.

"His is focused on the past," Harris said. "The other, ours, (is) focused on the future."

Harris said her campaign is focused on helping working families across the country, finding ways to bring down the cost of living, investing in small businesses and supporting reproductive choices for women.

"None of that matters for Donald Trump," she said. "Instead from him, we are hearing from that same old tired playbook."

Harris said Trump has no idea how to help middle class families but is only focused on himself. She pointed out how all of the presidents have done sit down interviews with CBS on "60 Minutes" and released their medical health reports from doctors. She pointed out that Trump has not done either and challenged him to do so.

"He is unwilling to meet again for us to debate," she said.

Harris said it makes people wonder if Trump's unwillingness to debate again would show people he is weak and unfaithful.

"For these reasons and so many more, it is time to turn the page and chart a new way forward," Harris said.

Harris promised to work for all Americans by keeping the Affordable Care Act, and having a $6,000 credit for families with children. She also promised a tax credit for people who are caregivers for family members.

Harris pointed out throughout her career she has only had one client, and that is the people. She believes it is why she has support from Republicans and Libertarians in this race.

While she says she has nonpartisan support, Democratic presidential candidates have not won in North Carolina since 2008.

Additionally, Harris' poll numbers are down in comparison to where they were in 2020 for President Joe Biden and where they were in 2016 for Hillary Clinton, at the same time in October during their races.

Harris acknowledges the challenge, but told her supporters on Sunday they must work for a North Carolina win.

U.S. Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., also spoke at the rally and encouraged those in attendance to vote early.

"The road to the White House goes through eastern North Carolina," Davis said. "We can do it. We can win."

N.C. Sen. Rachel Hunt, a Democrat who represents Mecklenburg County and daughter of former governor Jim Hunt, was also at the rally and asked voters for their support in her bid for lieutenant governor.

Harris arrived in North Carolina Saturday and met with Black leaders at The Pit Authentic Barbecue restaurant, in Raleigh, before she joined volunteers who were there to pack bandages, baby formula, baby wipes, pain relief pills and other items for victims of Hurricane Helene, which tore through western North Carolina last month.

On Sunday, the vice president spoke during a church service at Koinonia Christian Center in Greenville prior to the campaign rally at the ECU campus.

The weekend trip was her second to the battleground state after it was struck by Hurricane Helene.

A rezoning request for a property in Swansboro has been unanimously recommended for denial by the Onslow County Planning Board for the second time this year, and local residents continue to make their voices heard on the matter.

On behalf of Morton Minerals, Tidewater Associates first submitted an application in early January to rezone 74 acres from Rural Agriculture to Residential 10. The parcel is located on the southwestern corner of Belgrade Swansboro Road and April Lane.

The request went before the planning board at that time and many residents, who live in the area near the property, were at the meeting and voiced their concerns about the potential rezoning.

Matt Littleton, also in January, started a petition against the request. He said R10 was way too dense for that area, adding there's already heavy traffic and overcrowded schools. He said many local residents also use their properties for rural activities, like hunting, farming, and shooting.

Major residential development could encroach on or impact their ability to continue those activities, Littleton said.

Onslow County Planning and Development Director Carter Metcalf explained that the applicant's first request was recommended unanimously for denial by the planning board, and the developer then withdrew the request rather than send it to the Onslow County Board of Commissioners for consideration.

However, the request was made again earlier this month, this time for R15, rather than R10. Metcalf explained that R15 not only requires a larger minimum lot size, but it also doesn't allow for multi-family development like R10 does.

However, residents' concerns remain the same.

In fact, Littleton got his petition going again, and as of Monday, it had 427 signatures. He and several others attended the planning board's meeting on Oct. 4.

The planning board once again unanimously recommended denial of the request.

"They just did not think that it aligned with the county's new comprehensive plan, which is Horizon 2040," Metcalf said. "Horizon 2040 says that, essentially, you would want something that would be R20 or RA, and R15 does not align with that."

This is in addition to all of the residents' concerns, Metcalf added.

Littleton said the developer claimed at the meeting that they'd be more than willing to work closely with the residents on an agreed-upon plan. However, Littleton said he isn't sure that will actually happen.

Earlier this year, Littleton contacted the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resource with concerns about wetlands on those 74 acres.

In emails provided by Littleton to The Daily News from the Wilmington Regulatory Field Office of the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers to Morton Minerals, in May, Morton Minerals was found to be conducting unauthorized activity in waters of the U.S. off Belgrade Swansboro Road, adjacent to a tributary of Holland Mill Creek that flows into the White Oak River.

Apparently, this wasn't Morton Minerals' first violation.

"Your repetitive work in wetlands and waters without authorization continues to be a great concern to our office and will be taken in consideration as we review this action," the email continued.

However, a more recent email from August told Morton Minerals that their restoration efforts where the violation occurred had been satisfactorily completed, and no further action will be taken.

According to Metcalf, at this time, the request has not been withdrawn, and the county will move forward with scheduling the item for an upcoming board of commissioners meeting. However, the developer could still withdraw the request.

Assuming the request is not withdrawn, once the item is scheduled for a meeting, Metcalf said letters will be sent to residents in that area, just like before, a sign will be posted on the property, and two legal postings will be put in The Daily News.

Anyone with questions or who needs more information can contact the Onslow County Planning and Development Department at 910-455-3661.