WILMINGTON - Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton intensified her bid to appeal to North Carolina's primary voters by repeating her admiration for the armed services and vowing to promote policies that will prevent job losses to the state's economy.

Speaking at an outdoor rally to an estimated 5,000 people in downtown Wilmington on Sunday, Clinton unabashedly recalled the 1990s, when her husband, Bill, was president, as a period of economic growth and great national promise. She criticized the economic and foreign policies of President George W. Bush and his Republican administration, barely mentioning her primary opponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

"We've been on a bit of a detour from America's destiny for the last seven years," Clinton said.

Both Clinton and Obama are stepping up their campaigns as they enter the final frenzied week before the state's May 6 primary. Obama is scheduled to make campaign appearances in Wilmington and Chapel Hill, marking his first appearances in North Carolina since losing to Clinton in the Pennsylvania primary.

Clinton has been barnstorming the state since last week, working to chip away at Obama's lead. She has been courting the Democratic Party's traditional base of blue- collar workers and military families with promises of universal health care, affordable college tuition and ending the war in Iraq.

"Staying this course cannot work for America, for the Iraqis or for our strategic position in this world," she said. "We must talk about ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home."

Short of an upset victory in this state, the New York senator and former first lady needs to make at least a respectable primary showing to demonstrate to supporters and donors that her candidacy remains viable.

"This is truly a bellwether state for her," said Kermit Humphrey, 66, an undecided and independent voter who lives in Wilmington. "It's a delegate-rich state."

Both candidates also have been campaigning heavily in Indiana, which also holds its primary May 6. The polls show that the contest in that state is a close one. Up for grabs are 72 delegates who are nearer Clinton's grasp than North Carolina's bigger prize of 115 delegates.

On Tuesday, Bill Clinton arrives in North Carolina for a two-day swing through 11 towns, including Apex and Sanford.

Humphrey acknowledged the odds are against Clinton but said that more than a week leaves plenty of time for Obama to make a mistake or miscalculation.

"The more I've seen, the more I like her," said Humphrey. "She's really matured as a politician. Her positions have strengthened and she's been able to project her intellect."

Toward the end of her hour-long speech, Clinton returned to her favorite theme of late against her primary opponent: a call for a debate with Obama without moderators, a proposition that elicited wild cheers and hollers from the audience.

Kim Nethercutt, 50, a Clinton supporter from Carolina Beach said Clinton's underdog status may play to her advantage.

"She keeps coming from behind," she said. "I think a lot of people are afraid to come out and stand behind her because she's a woman."