WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (AFP) - Throngs of supporters in the southern state of Arkansas gave former president and native son Bill Clinton a rousing welcome late Sunday at a rally to help Democratic presidential candiate John Kerry steal an improbable win in the state.
Clinton, a former Arkansas governor, spoke for about 30 minutes late Sunday to a rally of some 6,000 people in the state capital Little Rock.
Most of the Arkansas congressional delegation is Democratic, but Republicans have had increasing electoral success in the state and now hold the governor's seat as well as other key posts.
President George W. Bush has enjoyed a solid lead against Kerry in the polls, but recent surveys showed the race tightening, prompting Clinton to make an 11th hour visit to Arkansas to help put Kerry over the top.
According to press reports, Clinton urged the crowd to reject the wedge issues that had given US Bush a comfortable lead in the polls.
"This election is not about guns and gay marriage," Clinton told voters, according to press reports.
The former president is continuing to recover from open heart surgery that had kept him off the campaign trail for nearly two months. He only returned to stump for Kerry one week ago.
11/01/2004 19:44 GMT - AFP