“This is my 49th town in North Carolina, and I thank all of you for helping Hillary,” Clinton told a crowd of several hundred outside Hillary headquarters in the state’s capital. His voice rasped slightly in what was either a genuine manifestation of his dedication or a calculated aural reminder of another last-minute push he made through traditionally Republican territories when he famously lost his voice on the way to a 1992 victory.

Bill’s regained aplomb on the trail combined with Barack Obama’s “bitter clingers” remarks have given rural Tarheels something to turn out for. Voters in Asheville called the president “very exciting,” and one churchgoer noted, “I’m shocked he’s coming.”

It’s doubtful that even the old Bill working overtime on the “Bubba tour” and Hillary’s newfound optimism can close the gap in North Carolina, but don’t be surprised if the combination makes Obama’s win much more narrow than expected.

“Do you believe in your heart she can win?” Bill Clinton asked at the end of his stump speech to loud cheers and chants of “Hillary.”