LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The triple-degree heat didn’t stop the Thomas & Mack Center from reaching capacity during a Saturday presidential campaign stop, forcing hundreds to be turned away by event staff.
Attendees standing in line outside began to shout in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and her recently announced running mate, Tim Walz, as Air Force Two flew overhead the thousands standing in line.
Tracy Carter, a Las Vegas resident, wore a pantsuit to match the “Harris look” and told 8 News Now she wanted to hear more about the campaign’s stance on helping people like her.
“I am middle class, but it is very difficult to remain middle class,” Carter said. “I feel like both candidates have good viewpoints, but I feel like the one that closely aligns with me is Kamala.”
Reproductive rights also resounded with Carter who said she hoped to hear more about a plan to curb medical costs.
“I would like the overturning of Roe v. Wade to be returned,” she said. “I would like our feminine products to be at a lower discount price.”
Former President Donald Trump appeared to be on the mind of supporters like Bruce Gale, who said he feared another term from the republican candidate.
“[Trump] is a threat to our democracy,” Gale said. “His 34 convictions, twice indicted, twice impeached.”
Gale walked closer to the cooled tent where refreshments were nearby and noted another concern that appeared to bother others nearby—the heat.
“I think climate change is one of the biggest issues,” he said. “I have lived in Vegas since ’75 and it keeps getting hotter, and hotter, and hotter.”
Further down the line of attendees, Rebecca Golden told 8 News Now she wanted to learn more about the Democratic presidential candidate’s stance on Israel.
“I want to keep democracy alive in America, but my second biggest issue is Israel,” Golden said. “I want to understand if Harris and Walz will be supportive of Israel. That’s a very important issue to me, I am Jewish, and I am really concerned about the antisemitism that’s been happening in this country.”
Staff at the Thomas & Mack turned away hundreds of hopeful attendees before the rally started explaining the event had reached capacity, the venue can hold around 18,000 inside.
Crowd size has been an issue between both democratic and republican campaigns as the 10,000-seat venue in Bozeman, Montana reached capacity on Friday with thousands outside, according to the Trump campaign.
