Politics may be the topic of the day, but it was music that many were supporting Saturday night in St. Petersburg.
Hillary Clinton’s running mate Governor Tim Kaine shared the stage with Jon Bon Jovi at their “Get Out the Vote” concert in St. Petersburg.
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The purpose of the show is to encourage voter turnout. The doors at the State Theatre were scheduled to open at 6 p.m., but fans and supporters were wrapped around the Central Avenue venue hours before.
Long line @StateTheatre_FL for Tim Kaine and BON JOVI @BN9 pic.twitter.com/1hHFbfUUWp
— Trevor Pettiford (@TrevorPettiford) November 5, 2016
Bon Jovi thrilled the crowd packed into the venue for the event, but he made sure to remind everyone there that the music this night had a purpose.
"[E]verybody in Pinellas and Hillsborough knows as goes Hillsborough County, usually goes Florida and in most cases, the United States of America," said Bon Jovi. "You guys should really know that your vote really matters."
At that point, Kaine joined the rock star on stage. He made one final pitch to get out the vote in these final days before Election Day, borrowing a few lyrics from the evening's headliner.
"I don’t wanna be another wave in the ocean. I’m rock, not just another grain of sand," said Kaine. "We’re not just waves in the ocean, folks. And we’re not just grains of sand. We’ve got power. We’ve got power politically and nobody more than in Florida. If you put your votes behind Hillary Clinton, it is done. She will be President."
Kaine also surprised and delighted the crowd by breaking out a harmonica to perform alongside Bon Jovi.
Clinton/Kaine rally with Bon Jovi and then this happens. Harmonica Kaine?! @BN9 @MyNews13 @StPeteFL pic.twitter.com/7KY3UWrb9M
— Trevor Pettiford (@TrevorPettiford) November 6, 2016
All in all, the "rally gone rock n' roll got rave reviews. But when asked who was the bigger draw, there was little question among the attendees.
"Bon Jovi! C'mon, let's be real, sorry," said Clinton supporter Donita Price. "They were both great. Both short, nice, it was good, Bon Jovi all the way!"
Kaine’s visit is part of a big push by the Clinton campaign to encourage early voting in Florida. Clinton and President Barack Obama have visited the state in the last few weeks.
The president is expected to campaign for Clinton in Central Florida Sunday, making a stop in Osceola County for a “Get Out the Vote” event. He will be joined by musician Stevie Wonder.