Updated Oct 11, 2012 - 12:38 am
Bill Clinton rallies for Carmona at ASU in Tempe
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TEMPE, Ariz. — Former President Bill Clinton spoke to several thousands of people at a get-out-the-vote rally in Tempe for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Richard Carmona.
"We're having a good time here but this is really serious," Clinton said. "You just remember I've been doing this a long time."
At the rally Wednesday, Clinton rehashed points he made at the Democratic National Convention, discussing the health care law and Medicare.
He also drew parallels between Carmona's biography as a veteran and a surgeon, and government programs that Clinton said built a strong middle class, such as the G.I. bill.
"I travel the world I see the most successful societies on earth," Clinton said. "Everywhere that's working creative cooperation is dominant over constant conflict. Everywhere that's working we're all in this together trumps you're on your own."
Clinton tried to appeal to the younger crowd, citing changes to student loans passed by the Obama administration and expressing support for a DREAM Act.
"If you want the young people to have a brighter future, if you want America to come together and not be torn apart, you can do something about it in Arizona," Clinton said.
Spirits were high after the rally. "He was right on, he was fair, he was very understandable. I think, as far as what the young people needed to hear, I think they heard it Wednesday, said Glenn Morgan who was among the crowd estimated between 5,000 and 9,000.
Another woman said she is very impressed with Richard Carmona.
"I'm an unatoned, unrepenting liberal so I relate to the issues he's concerned with like health, immigration, education," Olga Strickland said.
The rally at Arizona State University was to kick off early voting. Voters begin casting ballots Thursday.
Carmona is facing Republican Rep. Jeff Flake to replace the retiring Sen. Jon Kyl.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
KTAR's Sandra Haros contributed to this report
