Cory Booker brings enthusiasm to St. Andrew's Hall campaign stop in Detroit

DETROIT (FOX 2) - One day after his performance at night two of the Democratic Debates, Cory Booker was still in Detroit Thursday night at St. Andrew's.

While Booker was short on policy specifics, it was big on energy and enthusiasm. It was more than enough to pump supporters and sufficient to bring some of those voters a bit closer to his side of things.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker touted his Detroit roots, back in the birth city of his mom and uncle, he laid out his vision for the country. 

"We were at our best when we had leaders that called us to be the United States of America," Booker said. "And it is time we get back to that."

He also gave his plan to beat President Donald Trump in 2020. Think Civil Rights activists besting Bull Connor in Jim Crow south.

"We didn't beat him by bringing bigger dogs and fire hoses," Booker said. "We beat him by having artists of activism coming together to call on the consciousness of this country, call on more imagination of this nation."

Booker is riding high after a strong showing at Wednesday's debate securing perhaps the night's most memorable one-liner: "You are dipping into the Kool-Aid and you don't even know the flavor."

He also hit former vice president and front-runner Joe Biden hard on criminal justice reform and his support of the 1994 crime bill which accelerated the prison boom and mass incarceration.

"There are people right now in prison for life for drug offenses because you stood up and used that tough on crime phony rhetoric that got a lot of people elected but destroyed communities like mine," Booker said to Biden at the debate. 

That struck a chord with Darryl Woods, a first-time voter after spending the last 29 years behind bars.

"He is talking about (criminal justice reform) in a meaningful way, in a significant way," he said. "We want to hear what all the candidates have to say in this election."

FOX 2 talked with voters at the rally who are now a bit closer to jumping on the Booker bandwagon.

"He spoke from heart and I really appreciate that about him," said Amber Saffold. "I am kind of leaning toward Cory Booker 2020."

"I definitely would say I am a supporter, there are still a lot of candidates," said Laverne Jones. " I am still listening to different platforms, still forming my opinion but I am almost there."

"We are fighting for the next generation of children," Booker said. "We are fighting for a day where every worker makes a living wage. We're fighting for the day that everybody can retire with security. And fighting for the day that every American has access to healthcare."

Political pundits expect Booker will see a jump in the polls after that strong showing Wednesday, he's been in the single digits.

Even so he's already qualified for the next debate in Houston in September.