Former President Bill Clinton hits the campaign trail in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tennessee and Arkansas presidential primaries are less than three weeks away which means candidates are now focusing on the Mid-South. Tennessee is one of the anchors in the March 1 primaries, which is why the state is garnering national attention. Top Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton sent reinforcements to Memphis Thursday night. Her husband and former President Bill Clinton spoke at Whitehaven High. There wasn’t a single seat empty in Whitehaven High School’s gym Thursday night as 650 people piled in to hear former President Bill Clinton speak. He talked about the hot button issues like improving universal healthcare, equal pay, increasing the minimum wage, and making college more affordable. He touched on social issues too. “A president who is both upset as those young people are in the black lives movement that we are sick of seeing kids shot on the street,” said Clinton. “All my black kids, they all in the penitentiary. You know you got boys going to jail at a young age,” said a young voter in the crowd. It wasn’t just Clinton’s issues that impressed voters. People we spoke to said they were also excited to see candidates taking Tennessee and the Mid-South seriously. “We love it! This is kind of like their home town,” said another voter. Secret Service agents, TACT units and K-9 officers swept the building before the event and continued to watch over the crowd,  even while hundreds swarmed the former President afterwards to get a picture, or even a selfie. Political experts said it wouldn’t be surprising if we see more candidates from both parties come to the Mid-South up until the March 1 primary. Both Republicans and Democrats say Tennessee will likely be a battleground.