CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Preparations are underway and people are hunkering down so they can get to the front of the line for President Trump's visit Friday afternoon.

Several streets will be closed.

The ninth congressional district race is closely watched.

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Thursday night into Friday morning, many camped out in the rain. "I'm going to stay out here all night in the rain," Dennis Thomas said. "I tell people all the time I'll stand out in a hurricane if I have to for the president," Joshua Flores said.

Republicans hope it will drive voters to the polls to support ninth district Republican candidate Mark Harris. Politically, this visit is another sign of just how closely watched the ninth congressional race is this year.

"We expect to have an enormous crowd from Charlotte and the surrounding counties," Mecklenburg County GOP chairman Chris Turner said.

The president was just in the Queen City last month for another visit. Donald Trump Jr., Karen Pence, Sen. Lindsay Graham and former Governor Mike Huckabee all have made visits.

A number of national Democratic leaders have come to stump for Dan McCready including John Lewis and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, but he hasn't gotten as many high profile visits, which could be intentional experts say.

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"I think McCready wants to distance himself from party. I'm not saying he's not proud to be a Democrat. He's already said he won't support Nancy Pelosi, but I think he wants to minimize the damage of being too closely aligned with Nancy Pelosi," Davidson College political science professor said.

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Traffic near the Bojangles Coliseum is not going to be easy to navigate. The city sent out a notice letting people know some of the roads will be closed for short periods of time during the afternoon commute and again in the evening.

The rally will start at 7 p.m. and the doors open at 4 p.m.