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Clinton Makes Appeal to Rural America

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March 18, 2008 6:56 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Former President Bill Clinton made his first campaign trip to the Hoosier State today, reminding the people of Indiana how important they are to this election.

"Folks, this is an exciting election, and Indiana has a big role to play. It has been 40 years since you had a chance to play this role - that was a troubled year, and this is a troubled year," Clinton told a packed firehouse full of voters in Richmond, Indiana this afternoon.

"We need the common sense that you can bring to this election from the heartland - the people that do the work, raise the kids, pay the bills and fight in wars - and make America what it ought to be," Clinton went on to tell the cheering crowd.

The Clinton campaign is clearly looking at life after Pennsylvania with the former President's visit today.  The state won't hold it's primary until May 6th, but with such a close delegate margin between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, every delegate matters. President Clinton is also set to head to North Carolina in the near future to begin campaigning there.

Clinton was joined today by Former Indiana Governor Joe Kernan and Former First Lady of Indiana Judy O'Bannon.

President Clinton was strongly optimistic about his wife's chance today, playing up new national polls that show her running strong against the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain.

"I don't care what the polls say today, although for three days in a row the national polls have shown her running better against Senator McCain than Senator Obama. By November, they'll all be there. They'll all be that way," Clinton told a crowd at another event in Lawrenceburg, Indiana this morning, "because she wears well. 'Cause they beat up on her for 16 years, and she just gets stronger and stronger and stronger."

Clinton also focused heavily on the economy, talking about the recent actions taken by the Federal Reserve to stabilize the economy.

"All the press is about whether we are unavoidably gonna go into a recession, and whether these recent, and I might say, commendable moves, I think, by the Federal Reserve to try to stabilize these credit markets, are gonna be enough to forestall a recession. But now, tell the truth. Most Americans think they've been in a recession for some time, don't they?" Clinton asked the crowd, before explaing Hillary's plan to fix America's economic woes.

The Former President has made it his mission to visit the smaller rural towns in the remaining primary states, telling the crowd this morning "This is duty I ask for. I like to go to small town America. I like to go out to the heartland of the country and campaign."

Clinton later pointed out that some of the wealthier democrats may not need Hillary Clinton as President, and that it was up to the folks in that Richmond firehouse to make sure she got to the White House.

"You've got to elect her. People like you; people in the heartland. The wealthier democrats, who don't need a president, but need a feeling of change - they are by and large not for her. And you know.the press has - until the past few weeks - has been severely tilted and admittedly so - not for her. But she just keeps going on. You know why? Because every time, every time her back has been against the wall people like you have come to her aid," Clinton said in his closing remarks in Richmond.

"Now, Indiana, it is up to you. If you lift her up, if you will vote for her I believe she will be nominated. And if you nominate her, she will be the next President."

March 18, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (22)

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Poor Hillary, if it weren't for Bill she wouldn't even be a senator. Now she needs him to drag her across the finish line in the race for the nomination.

Posted by: Don | Mar 18, 2008 7:16:41 PM

Heck, it's nice to read some old plain politics for a change. I'm a Clinton supporter, nevertheless, it's nice to get off the Obama, Wright, race problem and look ahead for a moment. Not a lot to ask for I guess.

Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 18, 2008 7:25:09 PM

In such unsettled times, don't you think the world needs the experience of somebody like Bill Clinton at the White House, to steer it through troubled economic waters.I think that the presence of Bill Clinton in the White House would be a definite asset instead of a liability.
Instead,of talking about the "real life issues" the whole campaign is getting bogged down in the abstract issues of race and religion.

America don't make the mistake you made 8 years ago, in electing a nitwit to the presidency.The whole world has a stake in what you do this year.

Posted by: Rajesh | Mar 18, 2008 7:30:41 PM

It's funny, now we're talking about a third term for Bill Clinton.

Posted by: Don | Mar 18, 2008 7:36:52 PM

Don,
That sounds rather mean-spirited? Drag her across the finish line? By the way, are you supportive of your spouse, or significant other?

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 18, 2008 7:39:02 PM

I think Hillary wil do fine in the rest of the states I just read the speech that WJC gave for the Million man march in 1995 at the Taylor Marsh site what happened It is a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in tonight.

Posted by: Bishop | Mar 18, 2008 7:41:45 PM

Bill is right. Hillary is standing up for the little guys.. the workers, the union households, the working class, the single mothers, the people who pay all the taxes, pay all the bills, and they people who are struggling every day. People who don't no how they are going to pay for insurance, childcare, tuition, or these days, their mortgage.

Richer liberals, frankly, don't need her as much. They need to feel all warm and fuzzy as they sip their chardonney in their big houses. They need to feel like something has "changed".. even if nothing does. After all, they aren't exactly on the teetering edge of economic collapse, or a few paychecks away from foreclosure. So does it matter to them if the president gets anything done? Not so much. But they love a great speech.

I guess I should be for Obama too, as I fall into that income category. But I'm not. Because I grew up working class, I know what it's like to struggle. I've worked for everything I have, nothing has been handed to me. My family wasn't wealthy, and it's people like them who build this nation. Small business owners, teachers, police officers, plant workers. I proudly support Senator Clinton for this reason. And because she's detail oriented, and results oriented. Maybe not as exciting, but a fighter, and a worker. I support her for the silent majority that desperately needs her. This nation needs her.

Posted by: A reader in Georgia | Mar 18, 2008 7:47:31 PM

Yes Clinton third term, Hillary's crying games. Do not be mistaken, this is about number of delagates and not polls. OBAMA08

Posted by: BKMC | Mar 18, 2008 7:57:50 PM

Hillary is the only solution. Obama is the problem.

Posted by: D | Mar 18, 2008 8:00:17 PM

I agree with D

Posted by: KCMO | Mar 18, 2008 8:04:17 PM

Hillary Clinton is a wonderful Senator and she was a magnificent First Lady, and she will go down in history as one of the greatest modern Presidents of our time. Gender and race has nothing to do with it.

Posted by: Jay | Mar 18, 2008 8:26:20 PM

Hillary will help us enjoy life.
I don't want my life to be stirred up by Obama's race concern.
I want a peaceful life.

Posted by: golfgirlusa | Mar 18, 2008 8:33:30 PM

There are simply too many red flags around Rookie U.S. Senator Obama.

The most recent red flag is Obama's mentor, Racist Jeramiah Wright, who blames white Americans for everything from HIV to 9-11.

The fact that Obama is still loyal to Jeramiah Wright and his controversial Afrocentric church, which applauded Wright's call for God D_amn America, shows that Rookie U.S. Senator Obama's judgment is too poor to be president.

Posted by: USMarine | Mar 18, 2008 8:57:02 PM

I'm for Hillary
.... but DARN! I wish she had B O's speech writer!

Posted by: QUESTIONER | Mar 18, 2008 8:59:29 PM

"I'm for Hillary
.... but DARN! I wish she had B O's speech writer!"

...........
Obama writes the best ones himself.

Posted by: Sara | Mar 18, 2008 9:25:57 PM

We don't need Billy boy in the White house again he damaged it enought the first time.She is turning over her papers BUTTTTTT many things blacked out that is why the delay making sure you don't see the good stuff.They are doctored like her .......Thye don't know what rural is.

Posted by: h | Mar 18, 2008 10:41:15 PM

Hillary Clinton spoke to rural America, and this independent Kansan was listening.

The majority of Kansas and small state Democrats were disenfranchised through the caucus debacle.

The Obama campaign is working overtime to further disenfranchise Democrats in Florida and Michigan.

Now, the "monster" of the Wright reality of Obama is finally starting to surface.

Posted by: Ken | Mar 19, 2008 11:57:14 AM

""You've got to elect her. People like you; people in the heartland.:""

It cracked me up the first time he stated that crap here in Texas and it is still cracking me up. The only problem is, Hillary represents one of those wealthy Democrats too! The Repubs. were right about Bill Clinton all these years, the guy is a buffon.

Posted by: Seven | Mar 20, 2008 2:55:06 PM

Talk about tenacity - Hillary has it no doubt - keep it up Senator Clinton, I just love your hard working spirit and people you don't even know exist-like me for instance-are praying very hard for you to win. Don't give up the fight - it's not easy I know, but it'll be worth it all when you're our President. While there's life there's hope! Let Obama get some experience for God's sake! Let him put half what you've put into it! Time will tell; alas, it has for the outgoing nitwit!

Posted by: Margaret E. Hynes | Mar 20, 2008 3:00:21 PM

Talk about tenacity - Hillary has it no doubt - keep it up Senator Clinton, I just love your hard working spirit and people you don't even know exist-like me for instance-are praying very hard for you to win. Don't give up the fight - it's not easy I know, but it'll be worth it all when you're our President. While there's life there's hope! Let Obama get some experience for God's sake! Let him put half what you've put into it! Time will tell; alas, it has for the outgoing nitwit!

Posted by: Margaret E. Hynes | Mar 20, 2008 3:00:29 PM

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