Bill Clinton, the day after Pennsylvania
Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 5:36 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
HILLSBOROUGH, NC -- Bill Clinton fired up a Tar Heel crowd here today by recounting some facts and figures from his wife's victory in Pennsylvania. He said that victory was made possible by "people like you," working-class types that he claimed the Obama camp is now writing off.
"Today her opponent's campaign strategist said, 'Well, we don't really need these working-class people to win, half the time they vote for Republicans anyways,'" he said, while speaking from a flatbed truck on a baseball field. "I will tell you something -- America needs you to win and therefore
Hillary wants your support and I hope you will help her in this primary in North Carolina."
Clinton apparently was referring to comments by Obama strategist David Axelrod, who told NPR today that the "white working class has gone to the Republican nominee for many elections, going back even to the Clinton years," and that the Democratic candidates "haven't solely relied on the demographic"
Clinton told the hundreds on hand, as he told thousands of Pennsylvanians for more than a month, that this was "the biggest state still to vote." And he tweaked the Obama camp for ducking a previously planned debate.
"I think I know the answer to the question of why one candidate wants to debate, because I saw the debate in Pennsylvania. And afterwards, 41% of the voters watched it, and by 52% to 22% they said Hillary won," he said.
The rally was chock full of get-out-the-vote tactics meant to bank some votes for Hillary two weeks before the primary. For starters, it was held just outside an early voting location. "I'm supposed to remind you to vote early," he said. "Unless you haven't made up your mind, in which case, let me talk to you some more."
After his opening remarks, Clinton also answered some questions submitted by voters through the campaign's "NC Asks" program.
Before Clinton arrived, supporters were asked to phone bank, or text their number to the campaign for a chance to meet the former president.
The outdoor rally came to a hurried end when sunny skies made way for a sudden downpour. Four more events today are slated to be open air as well.
