Bill Clinton stumps for Caprio in RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Jobs were the main focus of a campaign event featuring former President Bill Clinton at the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence Thursday afternoon. The Democrat was stumping for Frank Caprio in his bid to become the Ocean State’s next governor.

• In-Depth: RI Governor's Race

"You need jobs back in Rhode Island," Clinton said. "You know this place is small enough, coherent enough...if everybody had a job, about 80 percent of your problems would be gone."

Clinton said Caprio is the person to fix Rhode Island's financial woes.

"He intuitively understands what has to be done to bring back this economy," Clinton said. "This is a real community, this state. You're small enough to think alike, to work alike, to work through this, to turn around this thing in a hurry - but you've got to have the right governor. And he's the man standing next to me."

Caprio became the sole Democrat in the gubernatorial race when Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who would have been Caprio's primary opponent, ended his campaign earlier this month.

Rhode Islanders backed Clinton, 63, in both his campaigns for president. In 1992, he received 47 percent of the vote against George H. W. Bush and Ross Perot. In 1996, he won 60 percent of the vote against Bob Dole and Perot.

WPRI.com internet reporter Ted Nesi conducted a live chat during Clinton's visit. Click here for a replay of the event.