Former President Bill Clinton on Saturday told an adoring crowd that Hillary Clinton “has the best economic ideas” that can “help us all rise together.”

He said his wife, the Democratic presidential candidate, and her opponent Bernie Sanders have debated the important issues facing the country, and made no mention of Sanders’ increasing criticism of Hillary Clinton as the campaign heads toward the California primary June 7.

Sanders plans a rally starting at 7:30 P.M. Saturday at National City’s Kimball Park and another in Vista Sunday afternoon.

Bill Clinton told hundreds of people in the Bonita Vista High School gym — and hundreds more in an outdoor overflow area where his comments were piped in — that they needed to help deliver a big win and the necessary delegates to allow Hillary Clinton to clinch the nomination before the summer Democratic convention in Philadelphia.


“She needs to go to that convention with the wind at her back,” he said.

In his introductory remarks, he praised San Diego for supporting technology and biotech industries, which he said will have long-range impacts on people’s lives.

“Everybody in this audience has a chance to live to be 100 years old because of the work that you’re doing,” Clinton said.

× Bill Clinton rallies in Chula Vista


Much of his speech was similar to his talk at San Diego’s Balboa Park Club earlier this month.

On Saturday, he reiterated that Hillary Clinton wants college students to be able to refinance student loans, and allow them to volunteer for public service for three years to get debt relief — which he added will make it easier for them to move out of their parents’ homes.

That was particularly well received by a crowd that was decidedly younger than the one earlier this month.

“She believes everybody ought to graduate from college debt-free,” he said, adding that her idea is different from her opponent’s proposal to make college completely free. “When people can pay something, they ought to pay what they can.”


1 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton speaks at Bonita Vista High School on behalf of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 2 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton speaks at Bonita Vista High School on behalf of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 3 / 18 Bonita Vista senior Alexis Taysom, 17, cheers for 42nd President Bill Clinton during a rally for Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 4 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton speaks at Bonita Vista High School on behalf of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 5 / 18 Hillary Clinton supporters pack the Bonita Vista High School gymnasium to listen to former President Bill Clinton speak. (Misael Virgen) 6 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton speaks at Bonita Vista High School on behalf of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 7 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton makes his way to the stage at Bonita Vista High School while campaigning for Hillary Clinton before the June 7 primary. (Misael Virgen) 8 / 18 Former President of the United States Bill Clinton signs autographs after a rally for Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 9 / 18 Donnetta Moore shows her support for Hillary Clinton at the rally. (Misael Virgen) 10 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton campaigns for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 11 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton rallies at Bonita Vista High School on behalf of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Misael Virgen) 12 / 18 Former President of the United States Bill Clinton rallies for Hillary Clinton at Bonita Vista. (Misael Virgen) 13 / 18 Former President of the United States Bill Clinton rallies for Hillary Clinton at Bonita Vista. (Misael Virgen) 14 / 18 Hillary Clinton supporters join former President Bill Clinton in a rally at Bonita Vista High School. (Misael Virgen) 15 / 18 Former President of the United States Bill Clinton rallies for Hillary Clinton at Bonita Vista. (Misael Virgen) 16 / 18 The Bonita Vista High School marching band exits the gymnasium after President Bill Clinton’s campaign event for Hillary Clinton before the June 7 primary. (Misael Virgen) 17 / 18 Former President of the United States Bill Clinton rallies for Hillary Clinton at Bonita Vista. (Misael Virgen) 18 / 18 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton shakes hands with Hillary Clinton supporters after speaking on her behalf at Bonita Vista High School. (Misael Virgen)

The former president said his wife’s plans for education, equal pay and better pay will “help us all rise together.”

“We are the best positioned country to take everybody along for the ride,” he said.

He suggested Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and New York senator, would do the best job of helping the country welcome people regardless of where they are from and who they are. He added the country needs to eliminate discrimination against the LGBT community and people with disabilities.


Without mentioning Donald Trump, Clinton railed against the presumptive Republican nominee’s proposal to build a wall along the length of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Do we want a wall? Not on your life,” he said, adding that it would hurt the economy and “destroy the very idea of what it means to be an American.”

Clinton acknowledged the economic anxiety many experience across the country.

“There is a legitimacy to the anger of the abandoned middle-aged white working force,” he said.


He also spoke of drug addiction, noting in particular the high rate of heroin addiction in West Virginia — underscoring the reality that the plague has hit rural and small-town America, as well as urban areas. He said part of the problem is that the economy has bypassed some of those who have turned to drugs.

“A lot of these people are dying of a broken heart,” he said to a quieted crowd.

At times Clinton’s remarks turned personal, as when he said he asked Hillary three times to marry him before she said yes.

“She’s been a change-maker all her life,” he said. “And she’s better at it than anybody I’ve ever known. She was always the first person in the room to say, ‘What are we going to do about it?’”


Clinton spoke for about a half hour — starting an hour after the scheduled time — and then left for a scheduled fundraiser at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. He later held a campaign event in Pomona.

Well before his appearance, a long line of people snaked across the school grounds under a sunny Saturday sky and a few billowy clouds. The atmosphere was festive mixed with anticipation of seeing a Democratic icon.

“I’ve always liked the Clintons,” said Tim Trottie, as he waited in line. “When Bill Clinton was president we had the best economy in a 50-year period. That’s a fact.”

“Hillary was the smartest person in the race before a single person dropped out,” he added.


Said Ryan Darsey, 26: “I’ve been a Hillary supporter since I was 12 years old. I like what she brings to the table — her experience as first lady, a senator and secretary of state. We haven’t had a candidate with that much experience in a long time.”

Kevin Guan, dressed in a black suit and fedora, was studying calculus notes as he waited to get into the high school gym. He said he leans “heavily Republican” but wanted to attend the event to see the former head of state.

“Here’s the thing, I’m only here at the Clinton rally because I live a mile from Bonita Vista,” the 20-year-old said.

Despite his political preferences, Guan said he’s not satisfied with the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald Trump. He said he only “technically” knows how he’ll vote in the June 7 primary.


“The only option now is Trump,” he said.

Staff writer Joshua Stewart contributed to this report.