CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hillary Clinton drew 4,000 people to a rally Monday night at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena, where she laced her 45-minute speech with policy initiatives on everything from health care to gas prices to ending the Iraq war. Earlier in Concord, where 300 supporters braved a downpour outside Troutman's Bar-B-Q, she promised to create jobs for an area devastated by the loss of textile employment.
Trailing by double digits in most state polls, Clinton got a star's welcome to the uptown Charlotte arena. Greeted by Bobcats owner Bob Johnson, she entered to a darkened arena with spotlights dancing over a crowd cheering and waving signs.
But her visit came as many Democrats worry that the prolonged and increasingly bitter primary battle between Clinton and Barack Obama could hurt the party in November. Interviews with several supporters reflected what many polls have found: If she loses the nomination, they may not vote for Obama. Clinton didn't mention Obama by name. Instead she continued to cast herself as the only candidate ready to lead at home and abroad.
Read the full story at Charlotte.com.