Clinton leaves impression on audience to spur change

After speaking for almost an hour about his experiences in the White House and what his wife, Hilliary, brings to the table as presidential candidate, former president Bill Clinton wraps his speech up.

The sky cleared to a bright blue as Clinton continues to shake hands—even though his talk ended almost 20 minutes ago. As students climb atop each other’s shoulders with cameras to get a better glimpse, the occasional student runs by screaming “I shook his hand! I shook Bill’s hand!”

Though the crowd seemed heavily Obama aligned before Clinton spoke, many cheers accompanied his statements of why Hillary should be elected.

“I’m telling you, she is the best change-maker you will ever find,” he said.

He talked about one visit he had to Ghana where he addressed 1,000,000 Ghanaians, but was touched by just one who stopped him on the tarmac as he was getting ready to leave the airport. As she pleaded with him, she said that policies which has been created by himself and Hilliary during his time in office gave her and 400 other women in her village a job, making it possible to send their children to school for the first time.

The woman gave him a shirt (what she now did for a living), and he said he looks at it everyday to remind him of what she said.

“The point I wish to make here is this: I love speaking to that million people, but that one with her shirt matters more,” Clinton said. “And that is why North Carolina should support Hilliary. Thanks and God Bless you.”

Twenty-five minutes have passed, and now he’s holding a baby.

For a full account of Clinton’s speech, stay tune to The Pendulum.

Clinton graces the stage

Susan Burgess, mayor pro tem for Charlotte, has now taken the stage. She addressed the antsy audience about her position as a superdelegate who has pledged her vote to Hillary, but soon after she started speaking she was cut short by Clinton’s appearance when he emerged at Powell’s doors.

Finally, former president Bill Clinton made his presence at Elon known once again. At 4:36 p.m. he entered in typical Clinton fashion, with a grin on his face and waving as he weaved through the oak trees in his suit.

Personable as always, Clinton first praised Elon, the community and its beauty. He is set to speak for 30 minutes.

Pre-Clinton speakers amp up crowd

Even with former president Bill Clinton’s arrival to address the Elon community postponed until 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, the crowd only continues to grow.

As of 3:30 the gates which the Clinton campaign said can hold 1,000 people was close to capacity, with more bodies spilling over into the surrounding grassy area.

Haggard Avenue in front of Alamance has been shut down for a period of time, while school buses and camera crews line the street.

Elon College Democrats President Emily Ballen spoke to the crowd, thanking them for their appearance and urging them to go out to the polls this fall—regardless of who they may choose to vote for.

“Let us view President Clinton’s visit as a reminder that very soon we will leave Elon and take all of our experiences with us into the real world,” Ballen said. “Now, more that ever, it is essential that we stayed informed.”

Since it is many students’ first time being able to cast a vote for the presidential election, she said it was important to participate.

“We are all part of a strong and educated community here at Elon,” she said. “The College Dems would like you to listen to President Clinton with a vision of the future. We are all active, caring citizens; let today serve as a reminder that we are the future leaders of America. We all have a chance to help our country.”

Alamance County Mayor Jerry Tolley asked for a show of hands for how many people attended the Clinton’s address at Elon College in 1992, then asked for students to raise their hands followed by Alamance Country members.

Hillary’s Field Director for North Carolina Mike Trujillo said the campaigns he directed in California, Texas and Pennsylvania were all thought to be failures, but his camp prevailed each time.

He said after Hillary’s victory was declared last night aroun 9 p.m.—where she won Pennsylvania to Barack Obama (D-I.L.) by 10 percent—the campaign has raised over $10 million. This broke every single fundraising record within 24 hours.

After proclaiming, “Pennsylvania told the world that Pennsylvania will always continue to be Clinton country,” he was greeted by a weak response by the crowd.

He also asked the crowd to text 442008 (44 for what presidential number Hillary would be and 2008 for the year she would win) and promised one random number that texted in would be selected. As Trujillo stood on the platform, he dialed the number and waited for someone to answer—the recipient, Nick, didn’t answer his phone. He could have won the opportunity to shake hands, hung or ask questions to Bill Clinton.

After about 20 minutes, Trujillo’s enthusiasm was one of the strongest still prevalent. After conducting the crowd to “Can you give me a H-I-L-L-A-R-Y! Who is your next president?” he received a mixed response of muffled Hillary’s with a dash of Obama screams.

Tossing T-shirts into the crowd, he’s continuing to rally the troops for Clinton’s arrival, which is still up in the air. He said in about four minutes the best democratic president in history will be out to speak. That was about 25 minutes ago.

:”When I say madame, you say president! You have to admit that feels really good, doesn’t it?” Trujillo said. Again, it seemed as though the Obama screams prevailed.

Clinton Running Late

Former President Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to deliver speech about the economy this afternoon on campus, is running late.

He is reportedly an hour behind schedule, which means he may not begin to speak until 4:45 p.m.

The Pendulum will provide updates as we receive them.

Clinton Set-up Begins

Less than three hours before former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to arrive on Elon’s campus, set-up is in full force.

Gates are in place around the quad between Alamance and the Fonville Fountain, the area behind where Clinton is set to speak. In addition, yellow caution tape has been placed around the perimeter of the quad to prevent students from walking in or through the area.

All surrounding buildings will be open during the speech as the class schedule is not altered.

Several Secret Service agents are already on the premises and more are scheduled to arrive with Clinton. As of now, he is on time for his 3:45 p.m. start time. Clinton is scheduled to be in Asheboro at 5 p.m. today also.

Elon has turned off the bells in courtesy of Clinton’s speech so they will not ring on the usual hourly schedule.