CLEVELAND: Two days before the general election, Hillary Clinton made another stop in Cleveland and was joined by Cavs star and Akron native LeBron James.
It was the first appearance with Clinton for James since he wrote an op-ed in early October endorsing her for president. James also campaigned for President Barack Obama at an event in Cleveland in 2008.
As supporters cheered in Cleveland Public Auditorium, James came out first, followed by Clinton.
“Thank you for the applause. I know you were all excited to see her; I didn’t know you guys were excited to see me, too, so thank you,” the 2016 NBA Finals MVP said.
James then also invited Cavaliers teammate J.R. Smith and his daughter onto the stage.
In short remarks before Clinton took to the podium, James said he knows coming from an inner-city Akron neighborhood that people think their votes don’t count. But they do, he said.
James said he was proud that his LeBron James Family Foundation, which serves children in Akron, helps inner-city kids know they are important.
“My foundation gives the kids the notion that someone cares about them, that what they dream about. That someone like myself, or J.R., and President Hillary Clinton can make their dreams a reality is very important to me, and I believe this woman right here can continue that,” James said to cheers from the crowd, pausing for effect after saying the word “president.”
Clinton said in return: “I have to really thank LeBron. What he does on the basketball court you all know is special. But I am just as impressed, as I have told him, about what he does off the court, because what he does off the court is to care for every child as if that child were his own.”
In her speech, Clinton said she wants to raise the national minimum wage and make child care and college affordable.
“I want every public college and university to be tuition-free for every family making less than $125,000 a year,” she said.
Clinton said she also wants to be “the best president small business will ever have” and that there needs to be guaranteed equal pay for women.
“This is not a women’s issue, this is a family issue,” she said.
Star power
Before the rally began, Gloria Calhoun and Lee Wilson of Cleveland Heights, both wearing Cavs jerseys, were excited to see both Clinton and James.
“My name is Gloria and I call him my son,” Calhoun said, jokingly referring to James’ mother, Gloria James. “I campaign for Hillary, but I’m always for LeBron.”
Wilson said he thought having James endorse and campaign for Clinton will help her “because people look up to him.”
Kay Mallett of Louisville, Ky., drove up to see friends in Cleveland and attend the rally. Mallett said LeBron’s endorsement or appearance doesn’t make a difference to her, but “I understand to Clevelanders or African-American voters, it does make a difference.”
Mallett said she was “joyously overwhelmed” to see Clinton and the potential of the first female president.
“I’m 56 and I wasn’t sure in my lifetime that I’d see a black man as president, let alone a woman president. I’m about to vote for the first woman president,” she said, tearing up.
Tracy Drews of Ashtabula brought her 15-year-old daughter, Claudia Smallwood, and her son’s girlfriend, 18-year-old Patience McDonald, to the rally to witness potential history.
“It was important to me to bring them here as women to hopefully see history being made and that glass ceiling being shattered,” said Drews, a University of Akron graduate.
McDonald said she cast her first vote during early voting on Saturday for Clinton.
Four Shaker Heights high school students were attending the rally because they had an assignment for their government class to attend a rally or volunteer. They were also planning to canvass for Clinton on Monday.
“Honestly, I came because of LeBron, but now that I’m here, I’m excited about Hillary,” said Will Raddock, 17, a senior. Raddock said he couldn’t believe how close he was to the stage, about 50 feet.
After the event, Euclid residents Dana Yatsko and Joy Diaz-Ruck, who both had seats in the bleachers behind Clinton, were elated.
“We all know women didn’t have a right to vote and for us to see a woman become president, it’s just a great time to live,” Yatsko said.
Diaz-Ruck said she liked what former governor and Democratic Senate candidate Ted Strickland said before Clinton took to the stage: “When you get out of bed on Wednesday morning barefoot, be careful when you step on the floor because there’s going to be shattered glass all over this country.”
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ.