News-Record.com

Bill Clinton was supposed to arrive at Davidson County Community College at 6:45 this evening. The former president always runs late, so I expected it would be about 7:30 before we saw him.

Boy, was I optimistic.

Rumors started circulating early on that Hillary's husband was two hours behind schedule, and that proved to be almost right. It was 8:58 on my watch when he stepped onto the stage in the DCCC courtyard to cheers from several hundred folks who stuck out the long wait.

The crowd was a pretty good mix of ages but probably 95 percent white. Davidson County doesn't have a large black population anyway, but there's definitely a large racial divide in support for Hillary and Barack Obama. Davidson's also reliably Republican, which made this evening's turnout rather impressive. I thought it likely that many of the people there might not have voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, but it looks like they're ready to vote for his wife now.

I sure can't remember Bill Clinton campaigning in Davidson County in '92 and '96, or coming through North Carolina much at all. It's funny that we may be seeing more of him this year than we did when he was the candidate, but that reflects the greater importance of North Carolina to Democrats this year.

It's obviously important to Hillary. Some observers might have wondered whether she'd work hard for North Carolina given how much she trails in the polls. Here's the answer: She's coming tomorrow, Friday, Monday and probably several more times before May 6.

Bill's best line this evening:

"If North Carolina votes for her, you mark my words, she will be the nominee and the next president and you will always be glad you did."

Most of his pitch echoed what I heard when he spoke in Greensboro a few weeks ago. The man is a gifted gabber. And, although he still had places to go and speeches to give tonight, he didn't seem to rush. Concluding his remarks at 9:31 (31 minutes after he was supposed to arrive in Statesville), he plunged into the crowd for handshakes, pictures and autographs for nearly 15 minutes more.

The evening had turned from sunny and warm to dark and cool from the time most people gathered to the time they all left, but I imagine more than a few went home thinking the battle for North Carolina is just beginning to heat up.

Update: It was almost 11 when he reached Statesville, The Record & Landmark reports. But a big crowd waited and greeted him enthusiastically.

By the way, I don't think Hillary will win North Carolina. Her position here is like Obama's was in Pennsylvania. If she can make it closer than expected May 6, losing in single digits, she can claim a strong showing. He didn't quite manage that in Pennsylvania.

Obama has the money to run more TV here, and he's endorsed by more North Carolina politicians. But the Clintons -- this is a tag-team campaign -- appear determined to work harder and meet more people personally. That will close the gap.