Democrats need state to win, Clinton tells Capitol rally
Democratic presidential aspirant Sen. Hillary Clinton gave no indication she was pulling out of the presidential race anytime soon Thursday when she spoke to about 400 supporters in the state Capitol Rotunda. Watch a video of Hillary Clinton's speech
Democratic presidential aspirant Sen. Hillary Clinton gave no indication she was pulling out of the presidential race anytime soon Thursday when she spoke to about 400 supporters in the state Capitol Rotunda.
"I'm running to be president of all 50 states," Clinton told the crowd under the Capitol dome. "I think we ought to keep this going so the people of West Virginia's voices are heard."
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets supporters inside the state Capitol Rotunda on Thursday morning. Despite increasing calls for her to end her campaign, Clinton said she can still defeat Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
She promised to return to West Virginia after November's general election. "As president, I'll be back in West Virginia," she said.
Clinton trails Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the number of delegates. Following his landslide victory over her in North Carolina last Tuesday and her close victory in Indiana, a number of Democratic leaders have said it is time for her to end her campaign. Instead, she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, turned up the heat in West Virginia, with both campaigning in the state on the same day.
She noted no Democrat has won the White House since Woodrow Wilson in 1916 without carrying the Mountain State.
"West Virginia is a test," she said. "It's a test for me and a test for Sen. Obama."
Clinton has been running well ahead of Obama in several West Virginia polls. The state's older, mostly white and blue-collar population hits the dynamics of Clinton supporters.
Pat Maroney, a former state Democratic Party chairman and the party's national committeeman, said victory for Clinton is still possible.
"Yes, I think she probably can [still win]," he said at the morning rally. "[The extended presidential battle] has been good for the country and the state to have this kind of dialogue."
Clinton defended her idea of suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summertime driving season, saying it was time to make "the oil companies pay the gas tax this summer instead of you paying it."
She noted gasoline costs are big issues in rural states like West Virginia, where people have to "drive to survive."
"I think it's time we had a president who took on the oil companies instead of cozying up to them," she said.
Clinton positions, such as her stance on the gas tax, have impressed Jennifer Harper, 24, of Charleston, enough that she came out to see the former first lady.
"She can come up with solutions for things and Obama can't," Harper said. "She says something more than just 'change.'"
Obama has been critical of the gas-tax idea, saying if the 18-cent tax is removed, oil companies will probably raise rates by that same amount.
Knowing where she was, Clinton also put in a big push for coal, noting 52 percent of the nation's electricity comes from coal. "Coal is not going anywhere ..." in the near future, she said, while renewing her promises of spending millions for clean coal technology projects.
The presidential contender said that within 60 days after she takes office she would begin bringing troops home from Iraq.
"I thought she really hit the issues West Virginians need to hear," Mary Anne Maul of Charleston said after listening to Clinton's speech.
Her appearance also brought some supporters from out of state, like Gretchen Baer of Arizona. The waitress began the "Hillary Clinton Army" about six months ago and has since painted a 1989 Toyota Corolla with Hillary Clinton's picture on the side.
"It's a work in progress," she said of the car.
Baer said she has traveled throughout Arizona and Texas with the vehicle and recently has been in Pennsylvania and North Carolina following campaign events. She said about 1,000 people have signed up for the "army."
"We want to put the party back in the Democratic Party," she said.
Despite starting about an hour late on a rainy morning, the rally drew only one complaint.
"I didn't get to see her," said a disappointed Brenton Brown, 10, of Jane Lew.
His fourth grade class traveled to the Capitol from Lewis County Thursday to witness the event. The students did serenade Clinton after the speech, singing "West Virginia Hills."
Bill Clinton campaigned in the state Thursday also, starting his day in Philippi and ending it at an event at Concord College. He plans to continue his barnstorming campaign today with stops including a 10 a.m. rally at the Madison Fire Department, followed by a 12:15 p.m. stop at the Williamson Fire Department. The former president will then attend a 3 p.m. rally at Wayne High School, a 5:30 p.m. event at the McKinley Middle School gymnasium in St. Albans and ending the day with a 7:30 p.m. rally at the Ripley Fire station.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
Democratic presidential aspirant Sen. Hillary Clinton gave no indication she was pulling out of the presidential race anytime soon Thursday when she spoke to about 400 supporters in the state Capitol Rotunda.
"I'm running to be president of all 50 states," Clinton told the crowd under the Capitol dome. "I think we ought to keep this going so the people of West Virginia's voices are heard."
She promised to return to West Virginia after November's general election. "As president, I'll be back in West Virginia," she said.
Clinton trails Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the number of delegates. Following his landslide victory over her in North Carolina last Tuesday and her close victory in Indiana, a number of Democratic leaders have said it is time for her to end her campaign. Instead, she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, turned up the heat in West Virginia, with both campaigning in the state on the same day.
She noted no Democrat has won the White House since Woodrow Wilson in 1916 without carrying the Mountain State.
"West Virginia is a test," she said. "It's a test for me and a test for Sen. Obama."
Clinton has been running well ahead of Obama in several West Virginia polls. The state's older, mostly white and blue-collar population hits the dynamics of Clinton supporters.
Pat Maroney, a former state Democratic Party chairman and the party's national committeeman, said victory for Clinton is still possible.
"Yes, I think she probably can [still win]," he said at the morning rally. "[The extended presidential battle] has been good for the country and the state to have this kind of dialogue."
Clinton defended her idea of suspending the federal gasoline tax for the summertime driving season, saying it was time to make "the oil companies pay the gas tax this summer instead of you paying it."
She noted gasoline costs are big issues in rural states like West Virginia, where people have to "drive to survive."
"I think it's time we had a president who took on the oil companies instead of cozying up to them," she said.
Clinton positions, such as her stance on the gas tax, have impressed Jennifer Harper, 24, of Charleston, enough that she came out to see the former first lady.
"She can come up with solutions for things and Obama can't," Harper said. "She says something more than just 'change.'"
Obama has been critical of the gas-tax idea, saying if the 18-cent tax is removed, oil companies will probably raise rates by that same amount.
Knowing where she was, Clinton also put in a big push for coal, noting 52 percent of the nation's electricity comes from coal. "Coal is not going anywhere ..." in the near future, she said, while renewing her promises of spending millions for clean coal technology projects.
The presidential contender said that within 60 days after she takes office she would begin bringing troops home from Iraq.
"I thought she really hit the issues West Virginians need to hear," Mary Anne Maul of Charleston said after listening to Clinton's speech.
Her appearance also brought some supporters from out of state, like Gretchen Baer of Arizona. The waitress began the "Hillary Clinton Army" about six months ago and has since painted a 1989 Toyota Corolla with Hillary Clinton's picture on the side.
"It's a work in progress," she said of the car.
Baer said she has traveled throughout Arizona and Texas with the vehicle and recently has been in Pennsylvania and North Carolina following campaign events. She said about 1,000 people have signed up for the "army."
"We want to put the party back in the Democratic Party," she said.
Despite starting about an hour late on a rainy morning, the rally drew only one complaint.
"I didn't get to see her," said a disappointed Brenton Brown, 10, of Jane Lew.
His fourth grade class traveled to the Capitol from Lewis County Thursday to witness the event. The students did serenade Clinton after the speech, singing "West Virginia Hills."
Bill Clinton campaigned in the state Thursday also, starting his day in Philippi and ending it at an event at Concord College. He plans to continue his barnstorming campaign today with stops including a 10 a.m. rally at the Madison Fire Department, followed by a 12:15 p.m. stop at the Williamson Fire Department. The former president will then attend a 3 p.m. rally at Wayne High School, a 5:30 p.m. event at the McKinley Middle School gymnasium in St. Albans and ending the day with a 7:30 p.m. rally at the Ripley Fire station.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
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Watch a video of Hillary Clinton's speech 
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