The 42nd president of the United States stopped in Sioux Falls on Friday to stump for his wife, Hillary Clinton, as she campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination.



Bill Clinton talked about economics, immigration concerns and the current political climate during his speech.



The rally was kicked off by Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether and U.S. House candidate Paula Hawks. Huether recounted his feelings when he watched Clinton address the 1992 Democratic Convention.



Hawks talked about being a child during the farm crisis of the 1980s and using the experience as a source for faith. She also said providing higher wages to the middle class is possible while cutting the federal deficit.



“Self reliance doesn’t prevent compassion,” Hawks said. “Self sufficiency doesn’t replace cooperation, and caution doesn’t exclude confidence.



The former president took the stage after an introduction by former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin. He addressed immigration concerns, saying that the country should build bridges, not walls.



“Should the bridge have some checkpoints? Yes. Should it have some speed bumps? Yes,” Clinton said.



During his speech, Clinton pitched his wife as a candidate to focus on economic issues in rural America and Indian reservations. While closing his speech, he said he’d be honored to work with his wife on economic issues facing the country.



“I would be happy to come back here and work on that,” Clinton said. “But you need a president with the right policies, and with the ability to get as many of them as possible through the Congress in the system we have.”



Tonight on KELOLAND News, Casey Wonnenberg and Brady Mallory will have reaction to the rally, and explain why South Dakota is important to the Clinton campaign.





Rewatch the entire rally with the player below:



