A standing ovation and applause form a predominately female crowd was given to Sen. Hillary Clinton D-N.Y. who spoke at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds on Sunday Jan. 28th as she does something that her husband, former President Bill Clinton never did – campaign in Iowa. Some of her supporters
were there as early as 6:30 a.m. to catch a glimpse of her. The original event was going to take place at the back area of the Hickory Garden restaurant but there was no way that everyone in attendance would be able to fit there. She started off the announcement surrounded by Iowa elected officials by repeating her new campaign motto.“I’m Hillary Clinton and I am running for president. I’m in and I’m in to win,” she said.Clinton spoke on growing up in a Chicago suburb in a middle class family as well as saying that the state of New York, is not just about New York City.“I’ve worked hard because of the diversity in our state. I work with farmers in New York, the farms are smaller but it’s the same work ethic.”Clinton also took questions from the audience on universal health care, Iraq, and the No Child left Behind Act. She was asked about terrorism and the dangers in the world. She smirked as she responded with “what in my background equips me to deal with evil and bad men.”
At a press conference in the afternoon, Sen. Hillary Clinton was nailed by the national and international media for that comment, she laughed and replied,
“I thought I was funny. You guys are always telling me to lighten up and now I’m being psychoanalyzed.”
On immigration reform, Clinton took the same safe political rhetoric stand.
“I support comprehensive immigration reform,” Clinton said, “and I hope to consider that it strengthens our borders, it serves a service on employers and as a mechanism on our local communities. It addresses a need for 11 million people. It brings people out of the shadows. We should also pursue other requirements such as learning English.”
The Iowa Caucuses are the first of the presidential primaries and set the momentum for the 2008 presidential election.
To check out our photo gallery of the event click here.