Thousands come to hear Clinton speak

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WIVB) - Former President Bill Clinton rallied the party faithful for Congresswomen Kathy Hochul and Louise Slaughter in Rochester on Friday.

Over 3,000 people rallied with Clinton in Rochester's Main Street Armory.

"Will you send Kathy Hochul and Louise Slaughter back to Congress? Look, these two fine ladies would not have a race but for all the money that's being spent against them," Clinton said.

Rep. Hochul added, "They don't like it now, they want me gone and so the SuperPACS are flying at us again, it's deja vu all over again, but guess what? They don't vote."

VIDEO | See Chris Collins and Kathy Hochul debate for the 27th District

Clinton urged, "And you need to make it your business every day to talk to as many of those people as you can to make sure they understand and make sure they vote, will you do that."

Tony Paretto of the Niagara County Democratic Committee was impressed by Clinton's speech, noting the former president barely looked at any cue cards. And former Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan felt it provided a big boost for the Congresswomen's campaigns, saying it may help with independent, undecided voters.

Rep. Hochul said, "To have his validation that he wants people like me back in Congress, I think it's important."

Her race has been a war of commercials, and the newest one claims Chris Collins fired 115 employees when he took over Buffalo China. Collins says he actually saved Buffalo China, because the previous owner was about to ship even more local jobs to China.

"To step forward with a commercial that has been shown by every fact checker to be a lie shows a sign of desperation. She needs to take that commercial down," Collins said.

Rep. Hochul responded, "I'm not doing that at all. Chris is just playing politics. The fact is that on a Friday afternoon, there were 115 more working at Buffalo China, he took control and Monday they were gone, so he can play with all his fancy accounting and pretend it didn't happen, but we'll stand by the ad."

The newly redrawn 27th District is now the most heavily Republican District in NY State, but the latest poll still has it as a dead heat between Hochul and Collins.