NASHUA, N.H.(Jan. 4) — The airport-hangar welcome for Sen. Hillary Clinton was a portrait of patriotism:
Giant American flags adorned the white-washed walls and shiny windows. More giant American flags sparkled on Clinton’s campaign bus.Smaller American flags wafted back and forth from the waving crowd.
“I look forward to meeting as many people here as possible in New Hampshire, talking about issues, being together for our country, hearing from all of you about what you need to know before you make your decision about who to vote for,” Clinton told the cheering crowd. She basked in the support after third-place finish in Iowa. Clinton received 25 percent of the Democratic vote, finishing third to John Edwards’ 26 percent and Barack Obama’s 32 percent.
“We face such big problems,” she sympathized.
At Nashua’s airport on Friday, Clinton rallied her supporters with her trademark pitch of her long experience, promised change in the Iraq war and the nation’s health care system, and appealed to New Hampshire voters to join her campaign.
As she has done throughout the campaign, Clinton stressed her 16 years in Washington, D.C., as first lady and as a Senator from New York. “I’m tested and proved,” she said.
On the Iraq war, Clinton expressed sympathy for the families whose loved ones have died or been injured. And she criticized the difficulties the war’s veterans have in getting care.
As a senator, Clinton said, she has met with the families of every soldier lost in the war from New York state.“I’ve spent a lot of time untangling the red tape and cutting through bureaucracy,” she said. “I’ve seen the results of what has happened to thousands of our sons and daughters. “
But Clinton stopped short of promising a quick end to the war even if she is elected. Her plan would withdrawal troops within 60 days, with plans to take care of Iraqi allies and American civilians who might be targets.
“We’ve got to do it quickly and responsibly,” Clinton said.
In a perfect set-up for the candidate, an audience member asked: “How can we assure every American has quality health care?”
“Elect me president,” Clinton responded.
Health care has been one of her main political issues, ever since leading an unsuccessful health care overhaul during the administration of her husband, former president Bill Clinton.
In her plan now, Clinton calls for a national plan for any American to buy into that offers the same coverage available to members of Congress. “If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for you,” she said.
“I look forward to meeting as many people here as possible in New Hampshire, talking about issues, being together for our country, hearing from all of you about what you need to know before you make your decision about who to vote for,” she said.
Even in a crowd of mostly supporters, some New Hampshire voters still weren’t sure about signing on with Clinton.
For Zo Tobi, a 22-year old from Lyndborough, N.H., the coolness to Clinton came from global warming. It’s his top concern and he criticized Clinton’s commitment to the cause.
“If I could ask her anything, I guess I would ask her if shes’ ready to resist the temptation of false solutions like nuclear power and whether she’s ready to get the work that needs to be done to build a clean energy economy to the people that most need to do it,” Tobi said. To register Independents like Tobi, climate change is a top concern.
“They need to know Independent New Hampshire voters want them to address this,” he said.
But for longtime Clinton supporters, the rally was a high starting point for before the primary.
Emilia Comai, an 18-year-old Clinton campaign volunteer from Hilton, N.H., said Clinton has a real connection to the middle class.
“Our economy is hurting middle class families of America and she really takes that into account,” she said.
Comai began volunteering for the Clinton campaign after her high school graduation where Clinton was a commencement speaker. Comai was impressed by what Clinton had to say, and hasn’t found a candidate she likes as much since then.
“She’d been in Washington, been in the White House. She knows what’s going on,” Comai said. “I don’t think the other candidates have that real clout and power to make change.”
(Melissa Daniels, a sophomore newspaper and music history major, is covering the New Hampshire primary for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.)
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