Harris fights Black voter apathy with star-studded stadium rally in Georgia

The vibe: Diverse in every sense of the word and unseasonably hot. Thursday's rally in Clarkston attracted tens of thousands of people who braved the late afternoon sun and heat — and Atlanta traffic — to snag a seat.

• Many of the attendees danced and sang along with the music like the SOS Band, A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast and the "Cha Cha Slide" by DJ Casper.
• Celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee and Tyler Perry rallied the crowd to visit the polls and choose Harris. Bruce Springsteen performed a three-song acoustic set that included "Dancing in the Dark."

The big picture: The Harris campaign's decision to rally in Clarkston is no coincidence; the DeKalb County city has been described as the South's Ellis Island and "America's most diverse square mile."

• Nearly half of the city's residents were born in another country, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

State of play: Harris' visit comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 election and days after an Oct. 22 AJC/University of Georgia poll found Trump leads Harris 47% to 43%, outside the margin of error of 3.1%, among 1,000 likely voters in Georgia.

• That same poll says 74% of Black voters were backing the vice president.
• 8% indicated they would support Trump, but nearly 18% of Black voters were undecided.

What they're saying: Black people who attended Harris' rally told Axios they have noticed voter apathy in Georgia, but chalked that up that to a campaign season that's dragged on.

• Jessica Walker, a Clayton County resident, told Axios that she's noticed Black men come around to Harris once they learn more about her policies and positions. "This is a historical event," she said. "She's capturing America."

Sir Price, who lives in Alpharetta, said despite the apathy he's encountering, he is working to "inspire everyone to vote."

• Price said it's disappointing to hear that some Black men are supporting former President Trump, but told Axios "it's just a small percentage," a sentiment echoed by others in the crowd like and on stage, like U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia).
• "I have a good feeling she's going to win," Price said.

• Doris Stewart of Lawrenceville said every man in her family will vote for Harris, including her son, who previously supported Trump. She thinks driving factors include the president's behavior and reproductive rights, she said..

Yes, but: Dontaye Carter, chair of the North Fulton Democrats, told Axios that the party needs to follow through on promises made in 2020, such as passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to keep Black voters engaged.

• Carter, who's also the first vice president of the Atlanta NAACP, said he isn't seeing a lack of enthusiasm among Black voters.
• "I just think we're exhausted, if I'm being honest," he said. "It's been this pressure of Black folks in Georgia to save democracy. That's a lot of pressure to put on a very small group of people."

Context: Harris' Clarkston visit is part of a nonstop tour of crucial "Blue Wall" states and other battlegrounds that could propel her to the White House in her campaign's final days, Axios' Erin Doherty reports.

What's next: Harris will appear with former first lady Michelle Obama in Michigan on Saturday. Harris will be in Pennsylvania on Sunday.

• She will make her closing argument of the 2024 presidential campaign during a speech next Tuesday on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

In photos: Highlights from Harris' all-star rally in Clarkston, Georgia