All campaign trails lead to Rhode Island, or so it will seem this week. Former President Bill Clinton will campaign here for Hillary Clinton on Thursday, and there is a “very strong chance” Donald Trump will come to Rhode Island later in the week, campaign officials said Monday.

“We are excited to have the president coming here in Rhode Island,” said Nick Black, state director for the Clinton campaign. “He is going to be talking about why Hillary Clinton is the best candidate for president and that Rhode Island is an important state in a critical election.”

Black said he could not confirm where or when Bill Clinton will speak. But former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr., a longtime Clinton supporter and fundraiser, said officials are looking at having him stop at the Community College of Rhode Island and in Central Falls.

Paolino said he is hopeful Hillary Clinton will also visit Rhode Island before the state's April 26 primary. “What this shows is the Clintons don’t just come here and leave,” he said. “They continue to come to the state and campaign.”

Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa, a Democrat, said he expects the former president to stop by Clinton campaign headquarters at 555 Broad St. in Central Falls.

“There is excitement that he is coming to Rhode Island but specifically to Central Falls,” Diossa said. “It’s a community on the rise. I’m sure he’ll know something about it but I will make sure to fill him in.”

Meanwhile, the honorary chairman of the state’s Trump campaign said there is a “very strong chance” the Republican front-runner will visit Rhode Island later this week — perhaps Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

“At this point, we don’t have a place or a set time, but I was told it could be this week,” said Rep. Joseph A. Trillo, R-Warwick. “They are trying to book him this week in Rhode Island."

Trillo said he had considered using an open hangar at T.F. Green Airport, in Warwick, but that has been ruled out because of Rhode Island’s unpredictable weather.

“It might rain; it might snow,” he said.

Instead, he talked about venues such as the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the Rhode Island Convention Center and the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center.

Normally, Rhode Island and its 19 Republican delegates are afterthoughts in a presidential race. But Trump now needs every delegate he can get to try to cross the 1,237-delegate threshold to lock up the GOP nomination before the party convention in July.

“We are finally on the radar screen," Trillo said.

While the big names haven’t touched down in Rhode Island yet, the prospect of their back-to-back appearances already has touched off an exchange about how many people would show up to see them.

“Bill Clinton needs a place that seats 1,000 people but Trump is going to need a place for 5,000 to 7,000 — and you can print that,” Trillo said. “And let’s not forget that this is a Democratic state.”

Black said: “We are not concerned with whose group is bigger. We are focused on getting Secretary Clinton’s message out about the work she is going to do for working men and women and families.”

— efitzpat@providencejournal.com

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