Marco Rubio draws hundreds to rescheduled rally in Pawleys Island late Friday night

Friday night, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio took the stage at a rally at Lowcountry Preparatory School in Pawleys Island, just nine hours before polls open in South Carolina for the primary election.

Rubio was set to host the town hall there at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, but the event was canceled about 15 minutes before it was expected to begin.

Organizers said Rubio's plane had problems in Columbia and they were unable to make it to the event.

The town hall was then rescheduled, and at 10 p.m. on a Friday night, about 600 people came out to hear and support Rubio.

Rubio spent about 30 minutes speaking to the large and enthusiastic crowd. He talked about his plan to beef up America's armed forces and his plan to help millions of Americans with student loan debt.

He also encouraged everyone to get out and vote.

"This election is not just an election between two political parties. This election is not just an election with names on a ballot. This election is a generational choice and a referendum of our identity as a nation and as a people, and now we must choose in this generation what kind of America we'll be in this new century," said Rubio.

He thanked the crowd for coming out despite the late hour on a Friday before leaving.

He was joined on stage by Governor Nikki Haley, who endorsed Rubio earlier in the week, and U.S. Senator Tim Scott.

This story is by our Grand Strand news alliance partner, WPDE.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 7:04 AM with the headline "Marco Rubio draws hundreds to rescheduled rally in Pawleys Island late Friday night."