Hillary Clinton Flying Against the Wind in Oregon and South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- More than 2,000 people packed an airline hangar at Joe Foss Field to see Senator Hillary Clinton Thursday afternoon.

It seemed the crowd could hardly contain themselves. For many, it was their first time seeing a presidential candidate up-close and personal, including Sioux Falls resident Susan Christian. She said, "I thought that it was an inspiration to all of the Americans to stand up for who we need to be in America."

They held signs, which said "Vermillion for Hillary," "SD Loves Hillary," and "South Dakota is Clinton Country." Others took pictures. Most drove many miles to see the former first lady, including Brookings resident Nikki Jones. Clinton's campaign stop made an impression on her.







"It shows that she, like not only does she care about, just like the big states, she also cares about just like the smaller states just like South Dakota," said Jones.

It seems South Dakotans were thrilled by her presence. Yankton resident Janet Jensen said she was. She told KSFY, "Oh, she's fabulous. She's so ready. I'm so excited about her as a candidate and I hope she stays in there because she's our, she's our president"

As the Democratic candidate spoke, an energy filled the room. Attendees like Wendi Taylor of Sioux Falls took that with them.

"It was awesome and I'm motivated and she's going to be president," said Taylor.







When the announcement came that Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit South Dakota this campaign cycle, a dose of cynicism resulted. Certainly, this would be a quick hit. She'd bring along a dime store speech, take a quick 10 minutes to deliver it and be on her way.

Forget the cynics. Clinton spoke with all the forcefulness that Democratic National Convention delegates would hear if she were giving the acceptance speech as the party's presidential nominee.

It didn't take long for a mostly standing crowd to realize this was not going to be a TV snippet with a brief mention of her positions on a variety of issues. Instead, this would be a detailed, 37-minute speech with tough talk about how she would handle the Iraq War and initiate her plan for troop withdrawal.

Like it did when she talked about Iraq, the crowd erupted with loud cheers when Clinton discussed the need to deal with uninsured Americans, put a period on the No Child Left Behind Act and make college affordable. All of these issues received responses from the large number of young people in the crowd. Lacking was a focus on agriculture, however.

For those supporters who arrived early, the wait to see Clinton was long. But some didn't mind. They just wanted the opportunity.







Pat Huber and Bridgette Schriver of Pipestone, Minn., displayed their Clinton loyalty at 10:30 a.m. when they lined up outside a hangar door that would not open for two hours. There was only green lawn and a concrete wall. Shortly after noon, it started to drizzle.

Once inside, they held firm for another 21/4 hours, leaning against the railing surrounding a stage like bar patrons putting in a full shift from happy hour to close.

When Clinton finally took that stage, they had a front-row vantage for her 40-minute address, and when she concluded "God bless you, and God bless America," they stood rooted.

"We're in it to win it. Girls rule," Huber said.

Annie Sauers, 100, of Larchwood, Iowa, first cast a presidential ballot for Franklin D. Roosevelt. She sat in a wheelchair mere feet from the stage, a chair acquired only for the day, granddaughter Terrie Malsom pointed out, because her grandmother still lives by herself and walks quite well.

"It feels good to be this close to hopefully the next president," Sauers said.






Sen. Clinton gestures to the crowd after being introduced by Rapid City, S.D., city councilman Malcom Chapman




After taking the stage in Sioux Falls, one of the first things Sen. Hillary Clinton did was introduce the crowd to one of her 'biggest' supporters - Ryan Moore, a 21-year-old University of South Dakota junior, who stands 3-feet-10-inches tall.

When he was 7 years old, Moore's family traveled to Washington to testify before Congress. He caught Clinton's eye, and during her speech, she picked him up, and used his family's situation as a real example that the country needs a health care overhaul.







Fourteen years later, they're still friends

"She's just so compassionate about kids, health care, making sure everyone's taken care of," Moore says.

Moore says he knows Clinton is in a tough spot right now, trailing Barack Obama in delegates. But Moore, for one, hopes she keeps fighting.

"She's never forgotten about our family, and I think that's an attribute she'd take in as president," he says.








"So on June third, Montana and South Dakota will have the last word," Clinton said.

While some across the coutnry think Hillary Clinton should drop out of the race, today she told South Dakotans every primary state should count.

"I think the more democracy we have the better to get people involved," Clinton said.

"If you will come out and support me on June the third, I will work my heart out for you. I invite you to join my campaign," Clinton said.

And with that, Hillary Clinton put South Dakota on the political map.








Senator Clinton told voters she was in South Dakota because every vote should be counted, but she told KSFY South Dakota also has much more to offer than votes.

"There's a lot about the challenges our country faces that South Dakota can be part of the solution for," Senator Clinton says. "Take energy for example, between wind and biofuels, South Dakota could be a major energy producer."

Clinton's a big advocate of renewable energy, emphasizing South Dakota's role when it comes to ethanol, wind power and switchgrass.

Clinton said, "We could see at least 5 million new jobs in the next 10 years from clean, renewable energy and South Dakota could be right in the mix on that...It's been said that American from the Dakotas down to West Texas is the Saudi Arabia of the wind...We should set a goal of 25% of our energy to be renewable by 2025 and invest right here in South Dakota...We should be having a crash program on renewable energy like we did for the space program. We need apollo program for American renewable energy."









Clinton summed things by saying right now we are a country living on foreign money and foreign oil.

She did have a few harsh words, especially when it comes to our high gas prices right now.

"Now everything I want to do about energy I know it's not going to happen until we get the 2 oil men out of the White House. But as soon as they leave, we're gonna be ready," said Clinton.









CENTRAL POINT, Ore. (AP) — Hoarse from a cross-country campaign trip through three states, Sen. Hillary Clinton told die-hard supporters in southern Oregon on Thursday night she would keep running for president, and pressed her opponent to debate on Oregon issues.

"Those of you who have already made up your mind to support me, send it in," Clinton told a cheering crowd of about 1,200, in a pavilion of the Jackson County fairgrounds. "If you think you've made up your mind to support my opponent, wait awhile. Keep thinking. Keep waiting for that debate."

Clinton, who was introduced by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, repeated portions of her Oregon Compact, saying she favored restoring federal payments to timber-dependent counties. She also called for thinning forests to provide jobs and reduce the danger of wildfire.







Gov. Kulongoski was a hyped-up hype man for Hillary Clinton tonight.
(http://blog.oregonlive.com/elections/2008/05/governor_warms_up_the_crowd_fo.html)

The normally staid Oregon governor, an early supporter of the New York senator, thundered onto the stage at the Olsrud Pavilion in Central Point about 9:15 p.m. in blue shirt sleeves.

First, he started a chant of "Hillary, Hillary!" Members of the crowd, many of whom had been waiting for three hours, stood and joined in.

"These next two weeks are the most important weeks of our lives in Oregon," he continued, nearly yelling himself hoarse. He then bellowed like a circuit preacher about Clinton's qualifications and intelligence.

"I give you the next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton!" he finished.







The bulk of Clinton's speech dealt with what she called Oregon issues, including the creation of green jobs and county timber payments.

"Problems in Oregon are not the same as problems in Indiana," Clinton said, her voice raspy after a day of stumping across the country. "I'm here to ask for your support so we can turn this country around."

Despite increasing pressure for her to concede the Democratic presidential primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton assured a Rogue Valley audience Thursday that she will carry on the race to the end.

Her stop in Central Point capped a long day for the New York senator. She kicked off her morning in West Virginia before a stop in South Dakota on her way to Southern Oregon to stump for the May 20 primary.

"I apologize for flying against the wind," Clinton said, acknowledging her late arrival to the Olsrud Arena at the Jackson County Exposition Park. "But that's the story of my life, you fly against the wind and you'll get there eventually."







Watch the entire Sioux Falls, S.D. rally: http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=050808rally

This guy told me so!

Really, why does this matter to you? If it is over why do you feel the need to spam someones thread? (Especially since the OPer does the same type of photo-essays for Obama supporters)

Bigtree is a Clinton supporter but has done these nice threads for both candidates. They are usually one of the few threads where civility can be found. Do you have to piss on it?

A lot of the Clinton supporters here are slowly coming to terms with the fact that Obama will probably be the nominee, but it takes time to adjust, and as long as she is still in the race and still campaigning there's no reason they shouldn't still be rooting for her. Trashing Obama at this point is counterproductive, but they have every right to keep rooting for her and chronicling her campaign and I really wish you would not create ill will by pissing on threads like this.

:thumbsup:

BigTree is one of the best that DU has! Even though we've differed on candidates, he's always fair, always civil. To my fellow Obama supporters, there's no need to piss in the Hillary threads. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar...

in most of Oregon. I know. I lived there forever. Its the place I want my ashes scattered. :) Nirvana on earth, that state.

It must really annoy you to tell yourself the truth about her support in your state.

And I can't believe she was in freaking Central Point, OR.

I grew up like 10 minutes from there.

thanks for the kind words

Your threads are usually the only positive things in GDP.

Thanks for your contribution. And lowering my blood pressure.


;-)

I was born at RVMC and lived in Gold Hill.

So, just perhaps, HRC isn't "The Great WHITE Hope" after all?

P.S. we also have former Senator Dashle on our side. :evilgrin:

Go Obama! I'll contact my cousins in the center farmlands ... Yes. We. Can. :patriot:

the only defense of some is a cry of 'racism' i guess. pity.

didn't think it "mattered". Suddenly, big red rural states "matter", because she's desperate.

:thumbsup:

that volunteers had to remove chairs because only half as many people showed up as they planned for as well as showing up over 2 1/2 hours late. I'm actually from that area. Good Ole Ted backed the wrong person. That's ok, when Obama wins the primary in Oregon he can change his pledge. Better late then never.

I like these 'intimate' events. They carry well on the local news and give voters the impression that the candidates are speaking on their level.

Splendid post! Bravo!

For many of us that is a realistic sentiment. Right now many people can barely fill the grocery bags with the amount of groceries they used to be able to get with their dollar. Some are being blackballed from jobs for speaking out against this war, and some just cannot afford medical treatment where the decider is the insurance co. Hopefully when January 09 is here we get to say the same thing.

I hope that 100 year old woman gets to see Obama too. She's seen so much in her life.

:kick:

I appreciate the interest and necessity behind your advocacy.

I appreciate this thread. I want to see her in a good light.

But, there is support in S.D. for her campaign . . . don't know much about Pollster.com

:kick:

. . . of why her bid for the presidency is so important to so many of the women who have invested their vote in her candidacy.

You have to fight the urge to kind of squat down and look people in the eye, at the same eye level, when they're in a wheelchair or they have a physical stature such as this young man has. I was told many years ago that they much prefer you look at them like you would anyone else, that you make eye contact but don't draw attention to the fact of their "disability."

Thanks, bigtree. Another positive post. :thumbsup:

I can appreciate that photo.

this one is pretty sharp