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People wait in line to see former President Bill Clinton speak at a rally for U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, D-Syracuse.
(Kevin Rivoli | krivoli@syracuse.com )
DEWITT, N.Y. -- More than 700 people poured into a hangar at Syracuse's airport in anticipation of seeing former President Bill Clinton, who is visiting to rally voters for U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, a Democrat facing another tough re-election this fall.
The visit will mark the third time Clinton has come to the Syracuse area to campaign for Maffei. Two years ago, the former president attracted 800 people. Four years ago, he drew 1,000.
"I feel a strange sense of deja vu," Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said.
Many of the same people were in the same hangar on Monday, when Vice President Joe Biden also rallied voters for Maffei.
"When you start the work week with the Vice President," Miner said, "and when you end the work week with President Bill Clinton, it is true that the eyes of the nation are upon us."
On Nov. 4, Maffei faces Republican John Katko, a former federal prosecutor making his first run for office. For Maffei, the stakes are high. This is his fifth congressional race -- he's won two during presidential cycles and lost two during mid-term elections like this one.
Clinton has been campaigning in key races across the nation. Earlier today, he was in Wisconsin for Democrat Mary Burke, who is trying to unseat Gov. Scott Walker.
Today's event at Syracuse Hancock International Airport was open to anyone. The doors opened at 4:30 p.m. at Syracuse Landmark Aviation Hangar #113 on Tuskegee Road. No tickets were required. The doors are expected to close shortly before the former president's arrival. That exact time has not been announced.
The 24th Congressional District includes all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties, and the western half of Oswego County.
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