Former President Bill Clinton stumps at Bucknell

Former President Bill Clinton at Sojka Pavilion Sunday, April 13.

LEWISBURG, Pa -- Former President Bill Clinton visited Bucknell University on Sunday, April 13, during a campaign stop for his wife and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Nearly 2,500 students, faculty, and staff and members of nearby communities attended the hour-long talk at Sojka Pavilion, which was simulcast to an additional audience in Trout Auditorium. Almost two dozen print and broadcast journalists covered the event, which was sponsored by College Democrats.

College Democrats president Kim Reynolds, Class of '09, introduced Bill Clinton, who spoke on behalf of his wife’s candidacy.

Participation in political process
"President Clinton's appearance truly speaks to the strength of this University in its ability to attract guests of incredible distinction for the benefit of the Bucknell community," said Reynolds. "Our University has the ability to provide us with the most significant and invaluable element of citizenship: active participation in the political process."

Clinton spoke for about an hour before an enthusiastic crowd, some of whom had been in line as early as 7:30 a.m. for the 11:15 a.m. event.

The former president championed his wife's work in rural Arkansas and her credentials to improve the economy as he stumped in Pennsylvania with just over a week to go until the state's critical primary.

All candidates invited
Bucknell President Brian C. Mitchell has invited all of the presidential candidates from all parties to speak at the University. Bucknell does not endorse any candidate or party but encourages engagement in the democratic process and critical thinking and analysis of the candidates and the issues.

Several surrogates representing the Democratic campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have visited Bucknell over the past several weeks, leading up to Pennsylvania's strongly contested April 22 primary election. Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton visited Bucknell on April 3.

Bill Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. He is the first president to visit Bucknell in almost two decades.

Some of those waiting to hear the former president were in line at 7:30 a.m.

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