PEMBROKE — Former President Bill Clinton spoke to students at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Wednesday afternoon as part of the ongoing battle for North Carolina votes.
Clinton, who drew a large crowd in Pembroke, also spent part of the day traveling across the state to campaign for his wife, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
“The impact that Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Obama and President Clinton are bringing to this region is astronomical,” said Walter Jackson, chairman of the Scotland County Democratic Party. “Hopefully we’ll see Hillary Clinton in our area when it’s all said and done. I would love to see them come closer than Pembroke.”
The ex-president also visited a hurricane shelter in Lumberton talking with flood victims, members of the Red Cross and an impromptu gathering of residents.
Star Houston, part of the Red Cross management team, described the lift the special visitor gave. Clinton discussed the situation of each person he met, shaking hands and sharing smiles with children.
“It always feels like a regular day, but this time a little something out of the routine really gave an uplifting spirit to some people for whom this process has been a little bit longer than they thought it would be,” Houston said. “It’s nice to have a little lift that came out of nowhere.”
Outside of the recreation center as he looked to leave for a stop in Pembroke dozens of people called out to Clinton and wanted to shake his hand, get a high five or a picture with him.
“North Carolina loves you, Mr. President,” Jaliah Jenkins yelled out.
The charismatic Clinton, wearing a large blue “H” pin with an arrow, the logo for his wife’s presidential campaign, took time to greet the crowd before being ushered back into his vehicle by aides and Secret Service agents.
“It’s exciting for the people here … it gives them hope,” said Lumberton Mayor Bruce Davis, who walked Clinton around the shelter. “Hopefully he will go back and speak to some people that we don’t know and maybe he can generate some help in our direction. If he does, I am grateful.”
Bill Clinton’s two-day “Stronger Together” bus tour included stops in Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro and Greenville. The tour continues in Winston-Salem today.
According to a news release from the campaign, the former president was visiting North Carolina to discuss Hillary Clinton’s plans to ‘build an economy that works for all, not just for those at the top, and lay out her vision for an America that is stronger together.’
The two presidential contenders were in the Tar Heel state last week, and surrogates from both campaigns are expected to return over the coming days as North Carolina continues to be a key battleground spot.
Jackson said he was glad to see the emphasis placed on North Carolina this election year.
“It’s difficult at this point, to put my thumb on the scale, but I would like to say the state is leaning Democratic,” he said. It’s just a great time to be a Democrat in Scotland County.”
Jackson added that the top of the ticket is important, but so are other races down the ballot.
“I don’t want people to forget about the governor’s race, state and Senate on down the ticket, even local elections,” he said. “That’s where our focus should be. I want folks to stay the course and go out and vote.”