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Clinton Kicks Off Texas Efforts

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February 12, 2008 10:18 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper Report: Senator Hillary Clinton is moving on.  Big time.

With the Potomac primaries in her rear view mirror, Clinton kicked off her campaign to win Texas’ March 4th primary in grand style and never looked back.

She never even mentioned her Tuesday losses in Virginia or Washington, DC and did not congratulate Obama on his victories.

With one of the biggest crowds she's seen in weeks, Clinton arrived at the University of Texas El Paso Don Haskins Arena with an entrance fitting for a rock star.  The stadium seats twelve thousand and was near capacity.

Unlike most Clinton events, the lights were suddenly put out, cell phones and glow sticks were thrust in the air and U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" blared over the loudspeakers.  Clinton was highlighted with a spotlight.  The crowd of nearly twelve thousand went wild.

A little boy wearing a black mariachi outfit was paraded on stage to present Clinton with a bouquet of flowers and the Senator and the boy waved together as the fans roared their approval.

"Hillary! Hillary!" they chanted.

Clinton was clearly glad to be in front of such a receptive audience after a rough few days.

"You have a saying here in Texas, 'all hat and no cattle'," Clinton said at one point. "After seven years of George Bush, we need a lot less hat and a lot more cattle."

Clinton delivered her standard speech with a slightly heavier emphasis on immigration reform.

"Of course we're going to have secure borders," Clinton said.  But she also said she wants to "bring people out of the shadows."

"If they meet certain conditions... we're going to give people a path to citizenship because so many of the people who are here work hard... and deserve a chance at the American dream."

As usual, Clinton criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for not offering a truly universal health care plan.

"Now is the time when we will achieve this goal. We cannot give up on it. We cannot back down on it.  Senator Obama won't come forward with a universal health care plan. But I have. I will. And with your help we can achieve universal health care in America," she said.

Before the Senator arrived, an all female mariachi band entertained the crowd.

"Que viven las mujeres! Si senor!" yelled the lead singer.  "Long live women!  Yes sir!"

February 12, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (52)

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Go Hillary! We'll support you all the way! Nothing would affect my decisions! I wouldn't look back either. I hope you would have more of such big crowd rallies to get your message out loud! Give WI a shot if possible. I wish you the best on the upcoming debate.

Posted by: snakebaby | Feb 12, 2008 10:51:27 PM

I admire Hilary for her guts. Go Hilary!

Posted by: Venus Catherine Thomson | Feb 12, 2008 11:07:36 PM

Hillary Clinton, Welcome to Texas -The Lone Star State- where Ann Richards' spirit lives on.

Posted by: Angel | Feb 12, 2008 11:46:00 PM

Go Hillary! My boyfriend and his sister and my friends strongly support you! Keep up the good fight!

Posted by: Jennifer | Feb 12, 2008 11:55:44 PM

Go Hillary go

I don't like Obama universal health care plan either. I will support you all the way Hillary from WI. I will be voting for you on my first Grandson B-day. Nothing is going to change my mind about you.

Posted by: Pat | Feb 13, 2008 1:32:08 AM

Clinton delivered her standard speech with a slightly heavier emphasis on immigration reform.

"Of course we're going to have secure borders," Clinton said. But she also said she wants to "bring people out of the shadows."

"If they meet certain conditions... we're going to give people a path to citizenship because so many of the people who are here work hard... and deserve a chance at the American dream."


I see she already trying real hard to kiss-up to the good folks in Texi/Mexi.

Posted by: Con | Feb 13, 2008 1:32:40 AM

Voice of reasons from Joseph Wilson

"Theodore Roosevelt once commented, "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly."

If he were around today, TR might be speaking of the woman in the arena. Hillary Clinton has been in that arena for a generation. She is one of the few to have defeated the attack machine that is today's Republican Party and to have emerged stronger. She is deeply knowledgeable about governing; she made herself into a power in the Senate; she is respected by our military; and she never flinches. She has never been intimidated, not by any Republican -- not even John McCain.

Barack Obama claims to represent the future, but it should be increasingly evident that he is not the man for this moment, especially with Mr. McCain's arrival. We've seen a preview of that contest already. It was a TKO."


Posted by: Trent in TX | Feb 13, 2008 2:23:30 AM

You can't run a government from one side of the aisle. You demonize the opponent, you'll get nothing done come January.

Clap Clap Point Point, "ya'll"

Posted by: Question | Feb 13, 2008 2:35:09 AM

Hillary has 35 years of experience. Yet with all her political experience and connections, she could not run a better and more efficient campaign. If she wins the presidency, I hope she can run our country's budget better than she has her campaign budget.
Whatever anyone thinks of Obama, it is impressive how he has organized his campaign and how he had the foresight to ask and seek small donations from millions of citizens.

Posted by: Diana | Feb 13, 2008 3:47:48 AM

HILLARY NEED TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN WOMEN AND AMERICAN MEN ...
EXPLAINING THAT IS NOT A SIN TO BE A WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY..
SHE NEEDS TO ASK MC CAIN AND OBAMA WHAT ARE THE PLANS TO FIX HONESTLY OUR COUNTRY,IN ECONOMY,HEALTH,EDUCATION,INTERNATIONAL TRADE,JOBS,NATIONAL DEBTS,WARS..SHE IS HOLDING TO LONG HER KNOWLEDGE TO BE PRESIDENT..SHE NEEDS TO BE HERSELF,SHE NEEDS TO EDUCATE AMERICAN VOTERS.

Posted by: J.C.T. | Feb 13, 2008 4:06:55 AM

I'm neither an Obama or HRC supporter, and am not a member of either party.

I voted for McCain in the 2000 Virginia primary, but never again, somewhat because of his stance on the present war, but primarily due to his response when the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000 slandered and maligned him in South Carolina and beyond. His basic response-'thank you sir, may I have another'. To be honest, I lost what respect I had for the man.

I am not enamored of Obama, and do not get why so many find him 'inspirational'. But I do respect him for his early opposition to the war. It's tipped the scales in his favor.

As for HRC, 1000% I will vote third party of she is the nominee. Here are the reasons why it will be very difficult for me to vote for HRC:

--she did not oppose the war, but tried to rationalize her vote by shoving all the blame on Bush. (She had no power of independent judgment?)

--she supported Kyl/Lieberman, which essentially is the extension of the Bush doctrine into Iran.

--she is a leader in a dem controlled Congress that has caved in and kowtowed to Bush on every significant issue.

--she has yet to publicly condemn Bush for his unlawful expansion of executive branch powers. Nor has she led a fight to end his administration's spying on US citizens without a warrant.

--if she is elected, and were to be re-elected, there will have been a Bush or Clinton in the White House from 1989-2016. This is not healthy for a democracy. While it ranks last among my concerns, this is a legitimate issue.

Posted by: Prince Roy | Feb 13, 2008 5:59:56 AM

Obama is running an impressive campaign. Guess he got the strategy and message right on "day one."

Fortunately for Clinton, she started with big enough built-in advantages that she can still pull this out, even after several do-over restarts, like we've seen.

Posted by: Paul | Feb 13, 2008 7:31:13 AM

The US ELECTORAL VOTES map looks like a baseball field with big states with Latino voters like Florida as the 1st base, NY as the 2nd base, and CA as the 3rd base with Hillary Clinton reaching home plate, TEXAS to complete the Latino HOME RUN.

Posted by: Angel | Feb 13, 2008 7:49:05 AM

Many of my Repulbican friends in NY told me if they could cross party line to vote, they would vote for obama because hillary was a easy target to beat. The republicans did all kinds of attacks on BARRACK, BARRACK is still there. Most Republicans wish HILLARY wins. He would be a warranty for the Republican to continue the occupancy in the white house for another eight years.

McCain is better than BARRACK. It could be a nice change, if you want one. McCain is a moderate Republican.


Posted by: DC | Feb 13, 2008 7:51:25 AM

"I am 100% behind my president" still echoes in my ear. Thats why Hillary is a definite no to me particluarly when I have another candidate who said just the opposite. Think about it.

Posted by: kallespapaz | Feb 13, 2008 10:35:39 AM

Welcome to Texas! You GOT my vote in November. Let the Obama supporter keep attacking you because it make you stronger with the voter.

Posted by: CD | Feb 13, 2008 11:15:41 AM

this whole myth about hillary having more experience than barack is the most ridiculous thing i've heard. she's barely into her second term as a senator. she never held any elected office before that.

Posted by: jeff | Feb 13, 2008 11:17:16 AM

HILLARY ONCE AGAIN DISPLAYS NO CLASS. SHE IS LIKE A SPOILED LITTLE LEAGUER WHO WILL NOT SHAKE HANDS WITH THE OPPOSING TEAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEATEN THEM. BARACK OBAMA IS STEADILY EATING INTO HER SUPPOSED STRENGTHS INCLUDING ME AND MY FELLOW LATINOS. I AM CERTAIN THAT TEXAS WILL BE THE PLACE WHERE SHE FINALLY HAS TO EAT HER HAT SANS CATTLE OF COURSE. YESTERDAY PROVED THAT BOTH WHITE MEN AND WOMEN CAN JUMP AND THEY ARE JUMPING ON THE CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN EXPRESS.

Posted by: Hispanic Vet for Obama | Feb 13, 2008 11:34:13 AM

I only wish I could vote. I am a British and a very strong supporter of Hilary Clinton.
What angers me is the unfair coverage and commentary by the media between Hilary and Mr Obama. It seems to me that if you were to criticize Mr Obama you run the very real risk of being called racist...total unfair. Hilary in my opinion is strong, intelligent and very capable of standing up to the Republicans or anyone else. She has demonstrated that over and over again. Mr Obama has not. The world is watching how you treat this lady. If America is the "world leader" it touts to be then how can you let this woman be treated so unfairly in the press without jumping up and yelling out loud.In my country we welcome strong capable leadership as we had with Margaret Thatcher. I did not agree with all her policies but she was treated fairly by all.

Posted by: Pauline | Feb 13, 2008 11:38:55 AM

Hill, will never vote for you or Bill again. Would be 4 years of utter pain.

Posted by: Dave | Feb 13, 2008 11:50:49 AM

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