Video After The Jump
(Cleveland.com) — When LeBron James speaks, Northeast Ohio listens.
And Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton knows it.
The candidate banked on the special relationship the basketball star shares with this politically significant region in the final stretch of the presidential race. Clinton enlisted James, the closest thing to Cleveland royalty, to campaign for her Sunday afternoon at the Public Auditorium.
The basketball star, forever a hometown kid from Akron, spoke briefly, encouraging Ohioans to vote. He was joined on stage by Cavaliers teammate, J.R. Smith.
This was Clinton's second visit to Cleveland in two days. Her campaign hosted a free get-out-the-vote concert on Friday, featuring another American royal: Beyonce.
Pantsuit up. https://t.co/3TKJ4H68Kz pic.twitter.com/vQY0YeDzEB
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 7, 2016
Ohio remains close, and the Clinton campaign continues to invest heavily as Election Day approaches.
On Sunday, Clinton delivered a steady final pitch to Ohioans in front of a crowd of about 4,000. She framed her campaign as a positive, unifying direction for America. She described the presidential bid of her opponent, Republican Donald Trump, as polarizing. She ran through her policy positions: She plans to rebuild the middle class, and make college more affordable.
Clinton notably avoided touting the news that she'd been cleared by the FBI again after new questions about her email use. The new investigation rocked the campaign two weeks ago, but its resolution was quietly applauded by the campaign.
With the email issue behind her, Clinton remained on message.
Read more takeaways below:
LeBron James
James came with one message for Northeast Ohio — vote, and vote for Clinton.
A rally fit for a King. https://t.co/3TKJ4H68Kz pic.twitter.com/uDK8NDu8RC
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 7, 2016
Here is LeBron introducing Hillary: "We have to get out and make sure we vote" pic.twitter.com/LUuSuKRdlx
— Colin Jones (@colinjones) November 6, 2016
"The number one main reason I'm here is because of Hillary and what she believes in," James said. "I want people to understand now I grew up in the inner city. And I know the whole notion of getting out and voting. And I was one of those kids, and I was around a community, that was like, our vote doesn't matter. But it really does. It really, really does.
"We have to get out and make sure we vote," James said, before introducing Clinton.
FBI email investigation
Clinton, freshly cleared by the FBI after new questions about her email practices, sidestepped the news. Instead, she gave a sturdy stump speech. Clinton spent time contrasting her vision of America to Trump's. And she asked Ohioans to vote.
"My vision is very different from my opponent's," Clinton said. "The bottom line is, his vision of America is so dark and divisive. It's not the America that I see as I travel around our country. I want us to have a vision that is hopeful, optimistic and unified about what we can do together to make sure America's best years are ahead of us."
Her campaign released a brief statement following the news affirming that she should not face charges for her email practices.
Khizr Khan: "Thankfully, Mr. Trump, this isn't your America" https://t.co/c7leuCE9uR https://t.co/6i1c2xwsgg
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 7, 2016
"We are glad to see what he has found, as we were confident he would," Clinton campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said of FBI director James Comey. "We're glad this matter is resolved."
Written by Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com
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