RALEIGH — It started out tranquilly. 

With less than a week until possibly the most important election in United States history, a Nov. 3 rally with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and hip-hop singer Pharell Williams began with a young black girl leading the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  

With uncertainty and unease being the norm this coming week, she gave people a reason to smile.

But in North Carolina’s capital — the epicenter of a highly contested battleground state — , those blissful feelings eroded quickly. According to the latest Elon University Poll, Clinton is only winning North Carolina by 1.2 percent. The former Secretary of State — in front of an overflowing audience at Coastal Credit Union Music Park — attempted to galvanize voters with the help of her former Democratic primary rival-turned-advocate and a celebrity who admitted he normally doesn’t participate in political events but said that, “this election is too important and I couldn’t sit home.”

Clinton and Sanders, combined, spoke for more than an hour and outlined key issues affecting voters such as racial tension, economic reform and affordable education

And, of course, they attacked and mocked Republican nominee Donald Trump. As the rally progressed, there were occasionally still smiles and roars of applause, but the stark divide so familiar throughout 2016 rose again with people booing at the mere mention of Trump's name. 

Sure enough, the tranquility ended. 

“We are at a crossroads and it’s not just about my opponent,” Clinton said. “This election is about who we are, what we are going to do and how we are going to leave our mark on this country in this time in history.”

Photo by Diego Pineda

Policies and plans given prominence 

Clinton has said in the past that she is not good at campaigning, but the former First Lady seemed energetic Thursday, speaking  about the policies she would execute as president while digressing into off-script tangents. The GOP primary was riddled with personal jabs and outbursts from the unprecedented 17 candidates, many of which were displayed at the numerous debates. 

But Clinton and Sanders constantly prodded each other over differences in substantive issues — not personal attacks. At the rally, they played off of each other again — this time in a friendly manner — saying their supported, joint effort to explain vital topics are what voters need, not the “bigotry” and “harsh rhetoric” Trump offers.

“Let me tell you something very radical,” Sanders said, in a sarcastic dig toward Trump. “I think a campaign should be focused on the issues.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) campaigns for Hillary Clinton by explaining the issues. Photo by Diego Pineda. 

Sanders touched on the similar themes he did during his primary against Clinton, including preventing billionaires from creating an oligarchical government and instilling free tuition for public universities. Clinton agreed and said another solution she'll offer toward college debt is the refinancing of student loans.

“It is totally insane, unfair and counterproductive to the future of this country when we have hundreds of thousands of bright young people, who have done well in high school, who want to go to college, but can’t get an education for one reason — their families lack the income,” Sanders said.

“Regardless of their income, they should be able to go to college. That’s revolutionary.”

Another issue discussed was criminal justice reform and race relations. Less than two hundred miles from where Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by a Charlotte police officer in September, Clinton stressed the urgency of creating meaningful relationships between law enforcement and communities. Clinton said ending the trend of African-Americans being killed by gun violence — either by police brutality or black-on-black crime in cities such as Chicago — will be a priority when she takes office.

“This is about who we are as a nation and whether it is one who believes in freedom and justice for all,” Clinton said. “We are all safer when everyone has respect for the law and when everyone is respected by the law."

Sharp criticisms of Trump and NC Republicans.

While Trump absorbed most of the attacks by Clinton and Sanders, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and Republican senator Richard Burr also sustained harsh words from the two Democrats.

Unsurprisingly, Clinton bombarded the real estate mogul with personal attacks, saying a Trump presidency would embody racism and discrimination, citing the numerous occasions he slighted women, African-Americans, Muslims and other marginalized groups.

“It’s hard for me to imagine a president that mocks the disabled… and willingly pits people against each other,” Clinton said to the racially and age diverse crowd. “As my friend, First Lady Michelle Obama has said, ‘The presidency doesn’t change you, it reveals who you are.’ My opponent has already revealed who he is.”

But while Clinton and Sanders attacked the GOP nominee, they keenly focused on McCrory and Burr, who are both entrenched in their own tight races, according to the Elon Poll. Clinton pleaded with the crowd to elect Democrat Roy Cooper for governor, saying it’s time North Carolina, “has a governor who puts families first.” Sanders also chimed in, implying that McCrory was a coward for, “trying to suppress the African-American vote.” The Vermont senator was referring to a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down a voter registration law that the court said, “targeted African-Americans with surgical precision.”

“What is not democracy is when cowardly governors go out of their way to make it difficult for people to vote,” Sanders said. “And I say to those governors, ‘If you don’t have the guts to participate in a free, open and fair election, get out of politics and get another job.”

Democratic senatorial challenger Deborah Ross speaks in Raleigh. Photo by Diego Pineda. 

While lashing out at Burr, Clinton made her case for Democratic challenger Deborah Ross, who spoke earlier. Burr recently joked about Clinton having a “bullseye,” something he retracted quickly but was still used against him by opponents. Ross said it’s unacceptable for a senator to imply violence against anyone, let alone a presidential candidate. Because of this, Clinton said Ross would do a much better job than Burr.

“I hope you are ready to elect Deborah Ross,” Clinton said. “She will represent you well and with excellence.

Pharell addresses women and minorities 

Clinton and Sanders constantly reminisced on President Barack Obama’s legacy, saying Republicans forget the 44th president lifted the nation out of a recession. They also highlighted other accomplishments, such as marriage equality, and said the GOP would eradicate all the progress he's made if Republicans either won the White House or kept control of Congress. 

In 2008, Obama won North Carolina by two-to-three votes per precinct, which ruptured a 32-year-old trend of the state voting Republican. Clinton implied the campaign has been a war of attrition and that many people may be turned off from voting. But with early voting rapidly coming to a close, Clinton warned against complacency as there is too much at stake. As she spoke at the conclusion —  of both her speech and of the election season — she made her last effort to win over voters.

“I truly believe you need a candidate you can vote for — not someone you can vote against,” Clinton said. “Come Jan. 20, America will have a new president. Bernie and I can do some productive things together, but we can’t do anything if you don’t get out and vote.”

Pharrell Williams tries to appeal to women and minority voters. Photo by Diego Pineda.

Williams reiterated Clinton’s statement, saying she personally promised him she would work with women and minority groups . Women was a tender point for Williams as he said. He constantly emphasized his high admiration for them in society and said it was time for a woman president. 

"For once, when it comes to the nuclear buttons, I want to see what it is like to see a president who knows what it is like to physically bring a life into this world before she decides to take millions of them out, Williams said." 

Clinton said whenever she talks with Williams — which is less than she would like — he makes her think with constructive conversation. Williams pleaded with African-Americans to turn out Nov. 8 for Clinton like they did for Obama eight years ago.

“To my culture, I see our influence everywhere," Williams said. “If anyone has ever called you a minority, go out and vote and show everyone that we are actually the majority."