GOP VP nominee Sen. JD Vance talks economy, Helene at town hall in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WTVD) -- With the election less than a month away, Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance returned to North Carolina for a town hall event.

He was in Greensboro on Thursday for a campaign event at the Koury Convention Center, where he was joined on the stage by former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick for a discussion that focused on the economy, illegal immigration and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Vance was in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago and has made stops across the state.

The appearance by the Ohio senator comes after his running mate, former President Donald Trump held a town-hall campaign event in Fayetteville this past Friday.

It was standing room only in the Koury Convention Center ballroom where hundreds of supporters were excited to speak directly with Vance.

"I didn't really know what to expect. Like, I didn't know who was going to be asking questions, but having actual voters ask questions that weren't pre-prepared, I think it's really important to see who the candidate was," said Matthew Doole, a High Point Resident.

In the town hall format, Vance shared what he believed should've happened during the Hurricane Helene aftermath.

"Western North Carolina is underwater," Vance said. "What should have happened is that the president and the vice president should have sent the 82nd Airborne to western North Carolina that day."

Many people in line to get in told ABC11 that the economy was the top focus for them -- and that they believed in Trump and Vance's approach.

"How they are going to handle the economy, which is so important to the American people," said North Carolina resident Pat Fogleman. "I mean a box of cornflakes is like $7. It's ridiculous."

Vance touted Trump's approach to penalizing companies who send jobs overseas and to lower the cost of fuel.

"If all the people who are doing the building and delivering the materials are paying more for gas and more for energy, then that's going to raise the price of everything," Vance said. "So, President Trump has this phrase, which I think is very simple, but it's also a genuinely specific policy. The most important thing we got to do to lower prices and make life more affordable is drill, baby, drill."

Vance also touched on the campaign's goal to deport undocumented immigrants.

"It's actually not hard to deport people," Vance said. "You just got to have competent administration that's willing to send people back to where they belong and not let them collect benefits in our country."

Two Appalachian State University students were on hand. They told ABC11 that as juniors, this will be the first time they will cast ballots. They said they take pride in the civic duty.

"It means a lot. I'm very excited," said App State student Benjamin Dulin. "I've already been to a couple of Trump rallies. I've never been to a vice presidential rally, so I'm excited to hear what he has to say. And I'm looking forward to it."

After the town hall, Dulin seemed pleased.

"I was very satisfied by his response, said he's going to deport the illegal immigrants that are here and that him and Donald Trump will stand up for small business," Dulin said.

Another attendee had a similar reaction.

"I thought his charisma really stuck out," said Joseph Welborn. "A lot of people don't think he's the most charisma, charismatic, but I feel like that really stuck out -- tonight was just a surreal experience."

Doole left the town hall energized.

"I'm definitely more motivated," he said. "The last four years under Joe Biden has been really not good. So I've never been more motivated to vote for somebody."

North Carolina is considered by most political observers to be a battleground state in this year's election in November.

Democratic Presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris announced that she will be in Greenville this Sunday. Additional details of her visit have not yet been released.