Bubba in the OC!

"I once held a political rally this big," Clinton's
visit to Irvine on Tuesday is considered to be
this election's biggest draw, outnumbering Paul
Ryan's visit in May by 1000 people
 (image via Patch)

You know the Democratic Party is serious about votes when they visit the Republican-infested waters that is Orange County. And with the election only a couple of weeks away, those of the elephant persuasion are bringing out the big guns: case in point, Bill Clinton visiting Irvine on Tuesday.

Speaking before a crowd of 5,000 at UCI's Bren Events Center, Clinton gushed about his Cali love, pointing out that in his first term as president, he had visited the state 29 times.

His last visit to Orange County was in 2010, when he came to support Loretta Sanchez, and this time she was on hand to help Clinton endorse congressional candidates Alan Lowenthal, Julia Brownley, Scott Peters, Dr. Raul Ruiz and Mark Takano.

In what is being reported as Orange County's "biggest political rally of the season", Clinton discussed a variety of topics, from continued praise for Obama, support for Proposition 30, and opposition to Prop 32.

Everyone seemed wowed by the former president, including Lowenthal, who described the experience of being endorsed by Clinton as "exhilarating", and considered him to be "one of the most respected and revered" people in America.

There was also a lot admiration from the many students in attendance, including those like Maria Ocampo, an 18-year-old who admitted, "I wasn't even born when Clinton was running for President. But hearing him was so inspirational."