WJC On Ron Brown

ALTOONA, Pa. - Bill Clinton appeared to get a bit choked up as he marked the 12th anniversary of the death of Ron Brown, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the first Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton administration.

Speaking at Penn State University's campus here, Clinton noted that Friday will mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., but said today was an "emotional day" for him as well.

"Today won't be marked in the same way, but it's the 12th anniversary of the death of Ron Brown, who was my Secretary of Commerce," he said.

He noted that Brown died when his Air Force plane crashed into a mountain in Croatia during the Bosnian War. He said he has a rock from the mountain where the plane crashed, complete with fragments of the plane. He said Brown's wife, who he spoke to earlier today, has one as well.

"That's when America's best," Clinton said. "These people over there, they loved him, because they thought he was trying to get them out of war and into peace, out of poverty and into prosperity. And they thought of America as a place that stood for that."

Appearing to get emotional, he added, "And every time I go home, I look at that rock, and I think of my friend, and the life he should have had."

Clinton told the crowd of more than 1,900 people that Democratic voters don't necessarily need to be against Clinton or Obama.

"This is a happy choice, you don't have to be against anybody," Clinton said. "But you do have to pick the best president. With all my heart, I think she's the best I ever had a chance to support."

He also said people were trying to say states that vote now don't count, but PA, he said, could vault Clinton to the White House.

"Let me tell you something, I've been in politics a long time," he said. "People don't tell you your votes don't count unless they do. They're afraid Hillary's gonna win if you vote for her."

(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)