Ch. 9 on the campaign trail with Senate candidate Ted Budd

CHARLOTTE — For candidates on the ballot this fall -- regardless of the race they’re running in or their party affiliation -- one of the most effective ways to gain votes is getting out and talking with people in the community.

Channel 9 went on the campaign trail with both candidates vying to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

The Political Beat’s Hunter Sáenz spent two days with Congressman Ted Budd as he made stops at several places in our area.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: The Political Beat: Ted Budd’s exclusive interview with Ch. 9

Similar issues and topics cropped up across each event. Budd separated himself from Democrat candidate Cheri Beasley -- a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court -- and the Biden Administration, by vowing to do what it takes to fix inflation, the crisis at the border and crime.

“This country is going in the wrong direction and I’m going to get us back on the right track, (that is) why I’m running right now,” Budd said in one of his stump speeches.

While the message is often the same as candidates move from one event to the next, they hope new, open ears await and endorsements, donations and ultimately votes, will follow.

>>> Watch the Political Beat’s exclusive campaign trail coverage with Congressman Budd in the video at the top of this page.

(WATCH BELOW: Senate nominees Beasley, Budd parry over abortion, inflation in debate)