Bill Clinton starts small-town swing

SANFORD -- Former President Bill Clinton courted Wal-Mart Democrats today, telling them his wife was well prepared to lead the country.

"If you vote for her, you'll make her the next president," Clinton told about 400 people at an Apex community center.

Clinton said he planned to stop in 40 smaller communities in North Carolina before Tuesday's Democratic primary showdown between Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen Barack Obama.

At each stop, Clinton said one unnamed pundit had belittled his campaign visits in small towns. Clinton's next step, the pundit had said, would be hauling Wal-Mart shoppers to the polls.

"He thought he was insulting me," Clnton said. "I thought it was a great idea."

Clinton avoided any mention of Obama or the controversy involving his pastor.

He touted Hillary Clinton's plans to create more jobs, provide universal health care coverage, and withdraw the troops from Iraq in a responsibile way. He also said she was the better choice to expand pre-kindergarten programs and to make college more affordable.

"She has spent her life as a change maker," he told several hundred people in Sanford, as he stood on a platform under a pine tree.

In addition to Apex and Sanford, Clinton planned to speak today in Dunn, Hope Mills, Lumberton and Whiteville.