SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Hillary Clinton wowed a small crowd of supporters in Springfield on Monday morning before heading off to a larger rally in Boston just a day before the state's primary.
"I will work as hard as I can every single day. ... I will get up and to go to work for you and fight for you," the Democratic presidential candidate said, asking for their votes on Tuesday. "I want us to make progress again. I am a progressive who likes to make progress."
The former secretary of state took aim at the candidates on the right, saying the Republicans left are "still peddling the same snake oil" that trickle-down economics will work.
"They are going to try to convince Americans to again go back to that policy," she said.
Clinton has positioned herself as an experienced politician who could work across the aisle, but still stand her ground. She espouses a platform based on inclusion and breaking down barriers, rather than building walls.
"The mean-spiritedness, the hateful rhetoric — that's not who we are," she said. "We have differences — that's part of the American DNA. ...
"What we can't let happen is the scapegoating, the blaming, the fingerpointing that is going on on the Republican side.
"It really undermines our fabric as a nation. So I want to set us on a difference course. ... I want to break down the barriers that stand in the way of people being successful. ... That stand in the way of Americans being successful."
This is the former secretary of state's first stop in Western Massachusetts during this presidential primary cycle; her opponent for the Democratic nomination, Vermont's U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, has three times drawn large crowds in the Springfield area and planned to be in Milton on Monday.
Clinton was headed for a rally at the Old South Meeting House in Boston after the Springfield event, but lingered after her half-hour speech to take selfies with the crowd.
Supporters were lined up outside the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History more than two hours before Clinton was to arrive. They packed into the small SIS Hall at the museum, below two vintage speed planes, to wait her arrival, occasionally breaking into chants of "413 ... Hillary."
Clinton is going into Super Tuesday on March 1 after a decisive win in South Carolina, where she picked 74 percent of the vote. Massachusetts joins Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia in primary balloting, with several other states holding caucuses.
Sanders is expected to take his home state of Vermont, but Massachusetts could be a battlefield. Clinton is leading in Massachusetts by at least 5 points, according to recent polls, but Sanders' draw in Western Mass has been substantial.
Clinton has strong support from established Democrats. She was introduced by Mayor Dominic Sarno. and U.S Rep. Richie Neal shared the stage with her on Monday. Also attending were state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, William "Smitty" Pignatelli, and Eugene Dellea, president of Fairview Hospital and a longtime Kennedy family friend. Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi are also supporters.
On the Sanders' side, state Rep. Paul Mark introduced the senator at last week's rally in Amherst and Mayor Richard Alcombright has thrown his support to the former independent.
Neal and members of the Berkshire delegation stressed Clinton's experience and qualifications as first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state.
"I think she's far and away the most qualified candidate, the broadest breadth of experience," said Pignatelli, referencing her experience both domestically and internationally. "There's nobody close in my opinion.
"She's taken every body blow they've thrown against her and she's still standing. That speaks volumes about her belief in doing good and trying to get this country back on track."
Clinton gave a shout-out to Pittsfield after briefly speaking with Farley-Bouvier prior to going on stage, recalling her visit to the city to support the renovation of the Colonial Theatre as first lady.
"She loves the Colonial Theatre," said Farley-Bouvier, who brought down a carload of supporters with her.
"She reflects my values and she's going to get the job done," said the Pittsfield Democrat. She said the get-out-the-vote efforts for Clinton appear to be paying off.
"You can really feel the momentum building. ... I think we're going to see some really good things tomorrow night."
Clinton hit on key points of her campaign platform, calling for a defense of the Affordable Care Act; making higher education more affordable; addressing climate change; promoting manufacturing; raising the minimum wage; protecting the Social Security Trust Fund; protecting a women's right to choose; and tackling immigration reform.
"I am going to take on the gun lobby," she vowed. "I'm talking about keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have them."
While containing most of her fire toward the Republicans, she pointed out differences between herself and her "esteemed" opponent Sanders on gun laws and education. While the Vermonter has called for college for all Americans, Clinton said her focus is on ensuring middle-class and low-income young people have the opportunity for a higher education.
"I don't want you to pay taxes to send Donald Trump's youngest child to college."
She described herself as wanting to be a "small-business president" in promoting family-owned ventures and manufacturing, including the needs of the communities in the region.
"You are a city on the way back up and I'm going to be a president and a partner to help you keep going," Clinton vowed to Springfield residents.
Clinton said she was ready to take on "whoever the Republicans choose."
"They've been after me for 25 years and I'm still standing," she said to cheers.
northadams.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
MEMBER SIGN IN
