New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign made its first stop in Michigan over the weekend, stopping for a town hall in Detroit to speak with some 700 AFL-CIO members and their families.
She talked about lessening dependence on foreign workers, saying, “I believe that if we don’t have a strong manufacturing sector in our economy, it won’t be long before we don’t have a strong economy.” Other topics in the 90-minute long speech included the war in Iraq, education and health care.
Meanwhile, her campaign entered the final round of having supporters vote for her official song. Clinton poked fun at some of the entries in what deputy press secretary Isaac Baker described as “a video she posted to engage with people online and interact with voters who may not normally be involved in the political process.” Baker says the campaign will announce the winner in the coming days.
In another online video, former President Clinton detailed his wife Hillary’s leadership in public service, and explained how those experiences would translate into leadership skills as the future president.
Washington Post political reporter Dana Milbank characterized a June 6 Club 44 “block party” hosted by Clinton and geared toward female voters as “an attempt by middle aged Washington to be young and hip.”
Performers included American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee and singer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, and the campaign enlisted face-painters and a “moon bounce” for the occasion. Some 8,000 people showed up for the event.
An Associated Press/Ipsos Public Affairs poll published June 11 showed Clinton’s lead among Democrats narrowing slightly. When Democratic voters were asked who they would vote for in the primary, 33 percent picked Clinton, a 5 point drop since March. Meanwhile, support for her toughest Democratic competitor, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, continued to hold at 21 percent. Former Vice President Al Gore, who has repeatedly stated he will not run, grabbed the support of 20 percent of those polled, while former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., came in fourth with 12 percent.
After Clinton recently picked up the endorsement of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, an influential Hispanic, the New York Times ran an article about Democratic candidates courting Hispanic voters. “The Hispanic vote has never been all that important in the presidential primary process in the United States. But that will change in 2008,” said Sergio Bendixen, a pollster who studies Hispanic voting trends for Clinton’s campaign. Several recent New York Times/CBS News polls show a majority of registered Democratic Hispanic voters like Clinton.
Clinton plans to travel to New Hampshire to deliver the commencement address at Central High School in Manchester on Thursday and stay to campaign in the state through Friday.
Email This
Vote 2008 Subscriptions 
