Thousands line up outside Main Street Armory to see former President Bill Clinton

Posted at: 10/19/2012 5:30 PM | Updated at: 10/19/2012 11:28 PM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

Thousands of voters from all over western New York packed into the Main Street Armory on Friday to hear former President Bill Clinton's address.

Former President Clinton was in Rochester calling on voters to get behind Congresswomen Louise Slaughter and Kathy Hochul. Slaughter is in a tight race with Republican County Executive Maggie Brooks, while Hochul is in a close race with former Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

Rally goers used words like "thrilling" and "exciting" to describe the atmosphere inside the Main Street Armory on Friday evening. Thousands came out to hear what the former president had to say.

On Friday night, former President Bill Clinton delivered a warning about the Republican candidates. Clinton said, "Remember what your mother told you when you were little-- if something sounds too good to be true it probably is."

People of all ages lined up for hours before the event including one teen who is not even old enough to vote yet. Domonique Gauthier said, "I know that Bill Clinton is representing Louise Slaughter and a bunch of other Democrats across New York. He's got the right idea in order for our nation to be in the right direction, we need to elect Democrats that care for women and care for veterans and elderly people as they care for themselves."

People from all parties were there to listen to former President Clinton including Hank Moffitt, a registered Republican. Moffitt said, "It isn't everyday you see an ex-president. I'm very impressed with the group, the people that are here, it's wonderful."

The former president touched on issues that have been hot topics lately. Clinton said, "One big reason that people haven't gotten a pay raise in more than a decade is that healthcare costs have gone up three times the rate of inflation. The healthcare bill gives people all over America the incentive to pay people for performance, not for procedures. We can finally bring healthcare costs in line with inflation so we can compete, hire more people, invest in new technology and yes, give people a pay raise."

Rally goers were pleased with his message. Another attendee said, "Bill Clinton is Bill Clinton, he is the greatest speaker there ever was. What he was talking about, people need to listen."

Event staff told News10NBC they estimate that about 3,500 people attended the event.

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