FAYETTEVILLE
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama courted the military vote in North Carolina yesterday.
Clinton campaigned here with eight senior retired military officers, including Gen. Hugh Shelton, a native North Carolinian and the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Speaking at Methodist University, Clinton gave a 30-minute speech focused on military and economic issues.
"We need a commander-in-chief who is ready on Day One to keep our country safe, who understands that we have to manage the economy and support the middle class in America," Clinton said. "They do go hand in hand."
Among her specific proposals was to vastly improve cooperation between the Defense Department and the Veterans Administration.
It was Clinton's second visit to Fayetteville, which is the home of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base.
The Obama campaign also increased its outreach toward military voters. Paul Bucha, a Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor winner, campaigned yesterday in Eastern North Carolina on behalf of Obama and started what the campaign billed as "Veterans for Obama."
In her speech yesterday, Clinton also repeated her call for a debate in North Carolina, which Obama has declined. Clinton said she is ready to have a debate anytime.
"Look, I'm so sleep deprived, it doesn't matter. Anytime, anywhere. I'll show up," she said, as the crowd laughed and cheered.
During a question-and-answer session with the audience, Clinton was asked about North Carolina's forced-sterilization program during the 20th century.
"It didn't just happen in North Carolina," Clinton said, and later added, "Obviously, that will never be permitted in our country again."
After speaking in Fayetteville, Clinton traveled to Asheville for another campaign stop last night. Today, she is scheduled to campaign in Jacksonville.
■ James Romoser can be reached at 919-210-6794 or at jromoser@wsjournal.com.
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