Star power

In his 93 years in this world, Grady Barlowe of Lenoir has never seen a U.S. president in the flesh. The lifelong Democrat, like approximately 1,000 other local residents, wasn't going to miss his chance on Sunday.

Former President Bill Clinton visited Lenoir that afternoon for a front-porch rally in support of his wife's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The stop was part of a statewide effort by Bill Clinton, as well as Sen. Hillary Clinton and her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, to drum up last-minute support leading up to today's North Carolina Primary Election.

Only time will tell if the former president's visit to Lenoir and other small towns across the state will generate enough votes for Hillary Clinton to beat Obama, who holds a narrow lead in the latest national polling data. But if Sunday's enthusiasm for the country's 42nd President is any indication, it just may.

Residents crowded the College Avenue lawn of Chuck Lovins and Chad Barnes, filled the normally quiet street and covered the hillside in front of Davenport A+ School in hopes of hearing what Bill Clinton had to say. They waited patiently, enduring unseasonable heat, for a rare (maybe the first time ever) presidential visit to Lenoir.

“We're ready for change,” said Gail Blevins of Lenoir. “I wasn't paying for $4 gas when Bill was in there.”

Blevins said she was glad he took the time to visit Lenoir, which is commonly overlooked by candidates in favor of the big cities, she added.

Nine-year-old Katie Kincaid of Lenoir, replete with a Hillary Clinton shirt and sticker, was excited about the historic moment. If she were old enough, she'd vote for Hillary Clinton, she said.

At least one Republican candidate for County Commission was in attendance and said he couldn't miss the opportunity to see a former president, even if he is a Democrat.

Caldwell County Commissioner Don Barrier, a Democrat who was elected in 2006, said he had previously supported Obama but may change his mind based on Sunday's visit and after considering Hillary Clinton's credentials.

“It's a tough call,” he said. “I'll support either - enthusiastically.”

The speech started approximately one hour later than scheduled with campaign staff saying that a wreck on Interstate 40 slowed the motorcade. But when the big moment arrived, the crowd did not fail to show enthusiasm. Adding to the excitement was the presence of national media from CNN, ABC News and NBC News.

Bill Clinton's motorcade parked on Church Street, between the host house and St. James Episcopal Church, and the relaxed-looking former Commander-in-Chief strolled by the excited crowd, entering through the back door.

After several minutes in the house - during which time the Secret Service inspected the stage area and Bill Clinton took a few moments to speak with Lenoir icon George Shade, a World War II veteran who flew with the Tuskeegee Airmen - the former President emerged while a U2 song played in the background.

He thanked those who made the event possible and shared with those in attendance why he is visiting small towns and hosting “front porch rallies.” Clinton cited the effort as one of the keys to Hillary Clinton's victory in Pennsylvania several weeks ago.

“It's one of the greatest honors of my life to campaign on her behalf,” he said, adding that his wife was outspent three to one in recent primaries in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania. “She won anyway because of people like you.”

He also talked about putting local residents back to work, mentioning the success of the “Google farm,” then he launched into a five-point argument on why Hillary Clinton should be the 44th President of the United States.

He started off with an issue that got the attention of the crowd quickly: putting Americans back to work. He mentioned a plan that would create at least 8 million jobs that couldn't be outsourced. He also said that Hillary Clinton, if elected, would overhaul the tax code and “encourage companies to invest in places like Lenoir.”

His second point may have hit the biggest nerve of the day - gas prices. Bill Clinton said that oil company subsidies must be repealed, which drew a huge round of applause, and that both short-term and long-term plans had to be implemented.

“Let them pay fees into the highway trust fund,” he said, adding that new technology will be the key to beating the country's dependency on oil. He referenced a 100-mile-per-gallon hybrid car that is under development and a plan for tax credits for drivers who buy such products.

“Any country that can beat the world to the moon can beat the world to the car battery,” he said.

The third point in the speech was healthcare reform that “leaves nobody behind,” which was followed by plans to deal with the country's mortgage crisis. The final point was about Hillary Clinton's plans for education.

“No Child Left Behind is a failure,” he said, which was met with another big applause.

Clinton went on to talk about other reasons why his wife would be the country's best choice for president. He talked about narrowing trade deficits and cracking down on import quality as well as bringing home troops from Iraq, fighting al Qaeda and taking better care of veterans.

The former president ended his presentation with an impassioned plea to vote for his wife and a promise to remember small-town America if she makes it to the Oval Office.

“She's not a quitter, and you don't want a quitter in the White House,” he said. “You want a change maker.”

He ended the event by shaking hands and hugging spectators in the front rows while John Mellencamp's “Small Town” blasted from the speakers on the front lawn. Many present held up signs, while others extended their hands and other items such as books, posters and newspapers hoping for an autograph. Bill Clinton spent approximately 10 to 15 minutes shaking hands, posing for pictures and mingling with the crowd before heading back into the house and off to his next North Carolina small-town speaking engagement.

Many local residents were in awe of the hoopla surrounding the event, as well as the security and the fact that a president actually came to town.

Clinton staff Marty McVey, a 1999 graduate of South Caldwell who grew up in Baton, spoke to the audience just before Bill Clinton arrived. He said, and asked Mayor David Barlow to confirm, that he doesn't think a sitting or former president has ever visited.

The event seemed to go off without a hitch, except for a handful in the crowd succumbing to the unseasonably high heat and a Clinton aide making reference to being in Rhode Island. In both cases, immediate responses (from EMS for the overheated spectators and from the crowd for the geographic gaffe) came.

During one of several fainting spells by members of the audience, which involved an elderly man close to the stage, Clinton scoldingly told the audience that “somebody faints at nearly every one of these now.” He told the audience not to get excited and to give the person some water and air.

He followed up with a remark that brought laughs. “At my age, I didn't think I could make anybody faint anymore,” he said.

The same day, Bill Clinton spoke in other nearby communities, including Newton and Marion, and continued his tour of rural North Carolina Monday.

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