- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Bill Clinton Glosses Over Obama Statement, Makes Clear His Love for Rural America
Email
ShareApril 12, 2008 10:21 PM
ABC News' Sarah Amos reports: Former President Clinton has never been shy about proclaiming his love for rural America. He has spent a majority of the election visting the type of small towns usually skipped over by a presidential campaign. He has been to an airport hangar in Abilene, Texas, an expo hall in Eureka, Calif., and countless small town high school gyms in between.
At a recent event in Indiana he went so far as to call himself a "rural hitman."
But today, as the Clinton campaign launched a full court press against Sen. Barack Obama's comments about rural America, the former president has stayed uncharacteristically quiet.
Clinton made no mention of Obama's comments at his early events, leaving that job to rural North Carolina native and Clinton supporter Tom Hendrickson.
Clinton's first mention of the incident came at his sixth and final stop of the night at a Legion Hall in Jacksonville, N.C.
"Yesterday, Hillary's opponent got into a little bit of trouble by making some comment -- you may have seen it," the former president said. "But the thing that has got me is one more time their side alleged that there was really not much difference how working people fared under me and under the Bush administration. Now if you believe that, I urge you to vote against Hillary."
The mention was so quick that many in the audience seemed to not even really register what he was talking about.
But while Obama may not have been a talking point at every stop today, Clinton's love for rural America certainly was.
"She would not be here today but for rural America. In Missouri, 109 of the 114 counties voted for her. In Arkansas, 72 of 75 counties. In Texas, 230 of 254 counties. A sweep in the rural areas of Ohio," Clinton told a crowd in New Bern, N.C., early this evening.
Clinton went on to talk about rural America's role as the backbone of America and how the caucuses, which have been won mainly by Obama, target upscale voters.
"In February, when she lost all these caucus states -- which favor upscale voters and people with more free time and are less democratic -- they are, right? [Cheers] -- you get one convention delegate for every 2,000 caucus-goers, one convention delegate for every almost 11,000 voters. They are. And all of a sudden, all over America, working people, men and women, in small towns and rural areas, who'd never given a nickel over the Internet, over 300,000 of them sent her $30 million so this campaign could go on. I will never forget that," Clinton said.
April 12, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (129)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Yes Hill and Bill love rural America that is why they have 800 000 of Colombian money in their pocket to ship over your jobs from rural PA, NC, VI to Colombia as they have done for NAFTA. Wake-up rural America if not in 2 years Hill the Bosnian General and Bill will make another 109 millions on our back. God bless America and God bless Obama.OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 12, 2008 10:29:46 PM
The Clintons love people a million times more than Obamas ever had or ever will.
Look at what the Clintons have done and compare with what Obamas have ever done.
Obamas have done NOTHING except run for office and now for the Presidency ...
To think that the Obamas care about people in general is pathetically laughable ...
WHERE IS THE BEEF?
Posted by: WhatAJoke | Apr 12, 2008 10:42:59 PM
So Hillary's strategy is to sweep all the Red parts of all the States. But she gets beat big in the Blue parts of those states.
Interesting thing what Bill has to say.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 12, 2008 10:45:50 PM
The Truth is that Hill and Bill only think about themselves. Anyone remember the year 1994?
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 12, 2008 10:59:36 PM
So we now know what Obama tells others behind closed doors: "Typical White People" are ignorant racist bible bashing trigger happy hicks.
Posted by: Pete | Apr 12, 2008 11:00:18 PM
May-be it's too late at night for me as I don't usually bring this up, but the headline of this article made me lol!
Aren't Paula, Gennifer, Kathleen, etc. all considered to be from rural America? So of course he loves it! There is not policy reason proving he does - quite the opposite actually.....
Posted by: Paige | Apr 12, 2008 11:02:03 PM
If Bill and Hill love rural america so much why don't they donate to some Farmers charity organization the $800,000 they made from the columbian trade deal Hillary doesn't support.
Obama 08!
Yes We Can!
Posted by: merle7 | Apr 12, 2008 11:03:03 PM
I'm so tired of Obama trashing the Clinton Administration and lumping it in with the horrific Bush Administration. As a Democrat I am very proud of Bill Clinton's Administration and the incredible period of peace and prosperity he presided over. Profoundly insulting and wrong to reject all the good that was done during the Clinton years. If he thinks those were such terrible years it makes me wonder whar Obama has planned for us should he become president. On the other hand, Obama has embraced Carter and his advisers. God help us.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Apr 12, 2008 11:06:22 PM
Many Hillary supporters are saying they will vote for McCain if she does not win. That fits as she is very aligined with the Republicans as noted with her votes on Iraq, support of Nafta, campaign's involvements w/Columbia -
Enjoy your vote for McCain!
Posted by: Paige | Apr 12, 2008 11:07:22 PM
Another truth -
A vote for Obama is a vote for MCCAIN.
Obama cannot win without the 28% of Hillary's supporters voting MCCAIN if Obama is the nominee.
And that 28% is now 33% and growing.
What Republican will vote for Obama?
Few and insignificant, if any.
Posted by: TheTruth | Apr 12, 2008 11:08:39 PM
Anyone remember the Year of our Lord, 1994?
That was the year all the Rural Democrats who stuck their neck out for Bill crashed and burned.
Ya Bill gotts the big love for the red spots on the map.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 12, 2008 11:09:19 PM
It's sad that so many Americans still think that Bill had anything to do with the economic boom of the 90s. He was lucky to preside over a period of unprecedented technological innovation, but managed to let it slip between his fingers by using the money to obsessively pay the debt instead of investing more into research and development to sustain it.
And his and his wife's "fighter" mentality lost the Dems both the house and the senate. We don't need that again in Washington.
Posted by: memoryaid | Apr 12, 2008 11:10:07 PM
Obama is not even on our radar ...
End of topic.
Posted by: NeverObamaForUsToo
------------------------------------
That is right, that is why Our side is winning bigger then your side!!
You belong to the loosing side becuase we cannot win it fair!!
If it is not Obama, I will support Hillary..not McCain and extended Bush terms!! I love my party..sorry cannot give up my party for racism!!
OBAMA08!! YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: RC | Apr 12, 2008 11:12:36 PM
Hopesprings - are you referring to the fact Bill essentially ignored Bin Laden and his opportunity to kill him? Or are you referring to the horrific banking/corporate scandals that proliferated under Clinton's watch. There are numerous WorldCom, Enron' etc. workers who lost their life savings. Shall we chat about NAFTA? The economy was great thanks to the telecom boom.
Posted by: Paige | Apr 12, 2008 11:12:55 PM
Fact: Hillary cannot win any more.
All she can do is damage the Democratic nominee.
A vote for Hillary is a vote for the continuation of scorched-earth politics within the party, and the lessening of the Dem's chances in Nov.
Oh, and if somebody can explain to me how Hill plans to win when 54% of the country has a negative impression of her, I'd like to know.
Posted by: TheOtherTruth | Apr 12, 2008 11:13:05 PM
Many of the Hillary supporter are women.
What are these people gonna tell their daughters and granddaughters when a President McCain stacks the supreme court?
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Apr 12, 2008 11:13:35 PM
Tavis Smiley gets booted from the TOm Joyner show for refusing to drink Obama kool-aid. Now his black supporters are throwing long-time black activists under the bus, not just the Clintons.
Posted by: geevill | Apr 12, 2008 11:14:48 PM
Whatever Clinton's shortfalling, they have done alot of good as well. They have demonstrated they really care about the average Joe, FAR more than most politicians do. That's right!!!!.
Why should Bill CLinton help out in New Orleans? Why should Bill Clinton help out in Africa? He could just settle back and live very comfortably ..
Bottom line and truth is they DO CARE for the underpriviledged ... It is evident everywhere ... They will go out there and help where they can, when they can and however they can.
Contrast that with Obamas? Where is the beef? NO COMPARISON
Posted by: WhereIsTheBeef | Apr 12, 2008 11:14:55 PM
Obama is not even on our radar ...
End of topic.
Posted by: NeverObamaForUsToo
------------------------------------
That is right, that is why Our side is winning bigger then your side!!
You belong to the loosing side becuase you cannot win it fair!!
If it is not Obama, I will support Hillary..not McCain and extended Bush terms!! I love my party..sorry cannot give up my party for racism!!
OBAMA08!! YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: RC | Apr 12, 2008 11:15:20 PM
Tavis Smiley gets booted from the TOm Joyner show for refusing to drink Obama kool-aid. Now his black supporters are throwing long-time black activists under the bus, not just the Clintons.
Posted by: geevill | Apr 12, 2008 11:18:59 PM
Post a comment
