COLUMBIA, S.C. – Former President Bill Clinton wowed a crowd gathered to celebrate the cause of freedom Friday night and asked them “to go out and see what you can do to pull this world together.”

He spoke to about 2,300 people at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road who turned out for the state NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund celebration.

Clinton said while factors such as terrorism, a lack of clean drinking water and grinding poverty grip the world internationally, Americans at home are plagued by income inequality, sliding health care and an antiquated national energy policy.

Still, “anybody who thinks our differences are more important than our commonalities hadn’t been paying attention,” Clinton said. “Our common humanity matters more.”

Clinton entered the church pastored by state Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, to a standing ovation. The audience paused long enough to take the visual measure of the man, then erupted into more sustained applause.

Clinton, in turn, demonstrated why he remains popular, eight years removed from his presidency.

Speaker after speaker who took the stage for a song or other tribute interrupted that mission to go over and shake the president’s hand.

Clinton accommodated them all, standing to pose for pictures.

“This is the largest crowd we have ever had,” state NAACP president Lonnie Randolph said.

Some said they expected Clinton to make a political campaign speech, but he did not.

The only reference he made to his wife – New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is seeking the presidency in 2008 – was that he needed to learn more about being in the limelight, while women took the spotlight.

“I need practice doing that,” Clinton said.

Clinton followed the NAACP’s theme, “Ideas to Inspire Freedom.”

He said he continues to be appalled by terrorists and others who prey on differences among humans, rather than their mutual goals of education, good jobs and security.

He also joked about having to compete for attention against rhythm-and-blues singers Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan, who were in town Friday for a concert.

The NAACP honored local “freedom fighters” at the annual celebration, including long-serving state Sen. Kay Patterson, D-Richland, who plans to retire from the state Senate next year after 34 years in office.

“I’m honored to be honored by the NAACP,” said Patterson, who is a life member of the civil rights organization. “Some things we don’t agree on, but we have agreed to disagree.”