Anahzsa Jones| Managing Editor
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton visited NC State University for the Midnight Get Out The Vote Rally, sponsored by the student organization College Democrats of NC State. The event featured pop culture icons Lady Gaga and Jon Bon Jovi, as well as former President Bill Clinton and the Clinton’s daughter Chelsea Clinton.
The highly anticipated event, which took place in Reynolds Coliseum on Nov. 7, saw an admission line that extended past Carmichael Gymnasium. Miles Holt, a sophomore in business administration, was waiting in line for approximately two hours. “I’d be pretty upset if I didn’t get in,” Holt said.
The event drew people of all ages. Kelly Aziz waited in line for approximately three hours with her daughter to get into the event. A seven year old girl named Nataya said she was “most excited to see her [presidential candidate Hillary Clinton].”
Attendants showed their support for the presidential candidate by wearing pantsuits as well as shirts and buttons with the phrases “When they go low, we go high” and “Nasty Woman,” in addition to the official campaign slogan of “Stronger Together.”
Despite the general positivity of the crowd, there was some dissent. A designated section for protesters was located outside of Reynolds Coliseum. Eric Low, a freshman studying biology, held a sign that said “Gays For Trump.”
“I decided to come out and protest because I really do not care for Hillary Clinton. I really do not think that she should be our next president,” Low said.
Reverend Miniard Culpepper opened the event at ten o’clock with a prayer where he adamantly endorsed Senator Clinton. “We need your spirit to move across the state of NC… move those souls to the polls who have yet to vote. Move their holy hands to cast their ballot for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Culpepper said.
Next, Dan Blue III, Democratic candidate for North Carolina State Treasurer, spoke and criticized Trump for calling Clinton a “nasty woman” during the last presidential debate.
“I happen to know some ‘Nasty Women.’ I call them mom, I call them grandma… I call them secretary of state, and with your help, I’ll call this nasty woman President of the United States,” Blue said.
Linda Coleman, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, spoke about the importance of unity at the polls on election day. “We are stronger together when we vote together,” Coleman said.
Attorney General Roy Cooper, Democratic candidate for Governor of North Carolina received a standing ovation from the crowd before he even started his speech. He asked the crowd “Do you think Donald Trump represents the best of America?” and “Do you think he’s a good role model?” to which the crowd replied with an emphatic “No!”
Cooper also spoke against Governor McCrory, citing HB2 and other legislation. “I believe with all my heart that North Carolina is better than this,” Cooper said.
For the next two hours, the crowd was entertained by DJ Samantha Ronson. Ronson played popular hits from the 80s all the way up to the 2000s.
The crowd stood and cheered when Stefani Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, took to the stage to express her passion for the upcoming election.
“I could never have fathomed that I would experience in my lifetime a woman president,” Germanotta said. She continued on to praise Clinton’s efforts of behalf of women, children and those in need for the entirety of her political career.
She also advocated for harmony between supporters of Clinton and her opponent Donald Trump. “If we are true Americans, then we must go from viewing his followers as our adversaries to viewing them as our allies,” Germanotta said.
She used her music to advocate for Secretary Clinton and her ideals on peace within the country. Germanotta began with “Come to Mama” and “Bad Romance,” interjecting “let’s have a peaceful election tomorrow” into the song.
After proclaiming “Black lives matter,” to explosive applause from the crowd, Germanotta sang “Angel Down.” She paused during the performance to say, “We cannot elect someone who does not care for the people.”
Gaga closed “Angel Down” by saying, “Don’t judge me for voting for Hillary Clinton; I was just born this way” and proceeded to sing her popular hit “Born This Way,” encouraging the crowd to sing along.
Singer Jon Bon Jovi joined her on the stage soon after and the pair performed “Living on a Prayer” as a duet for the first time. After the song, they introduced the Clinton family.
Chelsea Clinton described her pride for her mother. “I am fiercely proud to be my mother’s daughter,” she said.
President Bill Clinton focused on the importance of remaining vigilant for the remainder of the election. “I ask you not to quit until the polls close…Don’t give it away. Claim it tomorrow,” he said.
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took the microphone amidst chants of “I believe that we will win” from the crowd. She began her speech by thanking the performers and endorsing Roy Cooper, Linda Coleman, Dan Blue III and Deborah Ross for North Carolina offices.
In regards to the presidential election, she said, “I believe it is the most important election of our lifetime. There has never been a clearer choice.”
During her speech, Clinton touched on key issues like affordable child care, clean energy, paid leave and raising the minimum wage. “Every time I talk about these issues, my opponent says I am playing the woman card. You know what I say?” The crowd joined Secretary Clinton in saying “Deal me in!”
Clinton also spoke on her work with Democratic senator Bernie Sanders to make college debt free and encouraged people to confirm their polling place and sign up to volunteer at iwillvote.com. She ended her speech by contrasting two different visions of America. “America will be building bridges, not walls…Love trumps hate,” Clinton said.
