Clinton visits the Lehigh Valley
Democrat Hillary Clinton went on the attack Sunday in her first and only Lehigh Valley appearance, charging that rival Barack Obama's attacks on her plan to extend health coverage to the uninsured were unhelpful to reforming the nation's health care system.
''The last thing we need is to have someone spending as much money as he has downgrading universal health care,'' Clinton told an afternoon crowd of several thousand at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. ''We need to achieve universal health care, not create political opposition to universal health care. [That's] what the Republicans do, not what the Democrats do.''
Local Clinton rooters began lining up before 6:30 a.m. to gain entrance, with lines snaking around the block. By 1:30 p.m., a half-hour after Clinton's scheduled start time, scores were still waiting outside.
By the time Clinton took the stage, volunteers had opened rows of bleachers to accommodate a horde of slogan-chanting, sign-waving supporters. One man collapsed from heat exhaustion.
''This is history in the making,'' said Jessica Bahnck, 42, of Catasaugua, who brought her cousin Angela Piovesan, 47, of Bethlehem, an independent, to the rally in the hopes of persuading her to vote for Clinton in November.
Clinton was introduced by a quartet of local supporters: Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, Allentown Mayor Ed pawlowski, Easton Mayor Sal Panto and Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham.
''I have only two words I have to say. In January, it's 'Madame President,''' Panto bellowed.
Two days before Pennsylvania Democrats head to the polls in the high-stakes presidential primary, Clinton used her stop here to draw bright-line distinctions between herself and Obama in a race where the differences between the two candidates exist mainly in the subtle details of policy.
With Gov. Ed Rendell at her side, Clinton told supporters that voters face a clear choice Tuesday.
''This week, we had a debate, and it showed you the differences,'' Clinton said, referring to Wednesday's face-off at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, after which Obama complained of unfair treatment. ''It's no wonder my opponent has been so negative these last few days of the campaign.''
Clinton and Obama began sparring Saturday over health coverage, as Obama aired an advertisement saying Clinton's plan would require people to buy coverage even if they can't afford it.
Both Clinton and Obama favor extending health coverage to the uninsured by opening up the benefits plan offered to members of Congress and federal employees. The difference: Clinton's plan would require those without coverage to purchase it.
Clinton's health plan was on local minds Sunday. Standing before the rally at Linden Street and Elizabeth Avenue in a furry Uncle Sam hat, Linda Frey, 49, of Bethlehem cited its universality as one of the reasons she's backing the former First Lady.
''Obama doesn't have universal health care and Hillary does,'' said Frey, who works at Rodale Press and plays in a cover band called Menopausal Maniacs.
At the same time Clinton was addressing the Liberty High School crowd, her campaign held a conference call to announce a statewide commercial hitting back at Obama's advertisement. The 30-second spot charges that Obama's plan would leave millions of people without coverage.
Clinton also repeated campaign trail criticisms of Obama's vote in favor of a 2005 energy bill.
''When Dick Cheney presented his energy bill (because that's what we thought it was), with billions more in tax subsidies for oil companies, when oil prices were going through the roof, I said 'Wait a moment,' and voted no,'' she said. ''My opponent voted yes. That's a big difference between us.''
The compromise Obama supported also was backed by other Senate Democrats. And it resulted in a small, net tax increase for the oil industry, according to an analysis by the non-partisan site FactCheck.org. Obama and fellow Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin backed the bill because it included funding for home-state projects.
Obama's Pennsylvania spokesman, Sean Smith, dismissed the criticisms Clinton leveled while in Bethlehem. ''We think the voters of Pennsylvania want to hear about solutions to the problems they are facing in their everyday lives,'' he said.
As she has throughout the state's grueling six-week contest, Clinton cast the race between herself and Obama as a choice between changing the nation or keeping it on a course that has led to ballooning deficits and declining prestige abroad.
Political observers have said Clinton needs to win Tuesday's election by double digits to help close a delegate gap with Obama and to convince party chieftains -- who will act as so-called superdelegates at this summer's nominating convention -- that she has the best chance to defeat presumptive Republican nominee John McCain of Arizona.
Gov. Rendell, who is one of those superdelegates, predicted Sunday on CBS-TV's ''Face The Nation'' that Clinton will win by single digits.
''The Lehigh Valley is just like all the rest of Pennsylvania,'' Rendell told the Liberty crowd. ''We want a fighter. We want someone who is smart enough, who is tough enough, to fight the special interests and take back this country for the rest of us.''
Jill Hahn, 55, of Hellertown, said Clinton inspires confidence.
''I truly believe in what Hillary stands for,'' said Hahn, who waited in line for two hours to see Clinton speak. ''I knew it was going to be exciting, and it proved to be very exhilarating to hear her speak.''
Earlier Sunday, Clinton stopped at the Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant in Abington, Montgomery County, where she greeted diners and had bites of an egg white omelet and the house special -- stuffed French toast.
Obama made a brief stop Sunday afternoon in Bethlehem, chatting with well-wishers on Main Street and sampling a beer at Bethlehem Brew Works. Obama was traveling from Reading to Scranton.
Clinton and Obama continue crisscrossing Pennsylvania today. Clinton is appearing in Scranton, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Obama is campaigning in McKeesport and in Pittsburgh.
''The last thing we need is to have someone spending as much money as he has downgrading universal health care,'' Clinton told an afternoon crowd of several thousand at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. ''We need to achieve universal health care, not create political opposition to universal health care. [That's] what the Republicans do, not what the Democrats do.''
Local Clinton rooters began lining up before 6:30 a.m. to gain entrance, with lines snaking around the block. By 1:30 p.m., a half-hour after Clinton's scheduled start time, scores were still waiting outside.
By the time Clinton took the stage, volunteers had opened rows of bleachers to accommodate a horde of slogan-chanting, sign-waving supporters. One man collapsed from heat exhaustion.
''This is history in the making,'' said Jessica Bahnck, 42, of Catasaugua, who brought her cousin Angela Piovesan, 47, of Bethlehem, an independent, to the rally in the hopes of persuading her to vote for Clinton in November.
Clinton was introduced by a quartet of local supporters: Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, Allentown Mayor Ed pawlowski, Easton Mayor Sal Panto and Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham.
''I have only two words I have to say. In January, it's 'Madame President,''' Panto bellowed.
Two days before Pennsylvania Democrats head to the polls in the high-stakes presidential primary, Clinton used her stop here to draw bright-line distinctions between herself and Obama in a race where the differences between the two candidates exist mainly in the subtle details of policy.
With Gov. Ed Rendell at her side, Clinton told supporters that voters face a clear choice Tuesday.
''This week, we had a debate, and it showed you the differences,'' Clinton said, referring to Wednesday's face-off at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, after which Obama complained of unfair treatment. ''It's no wonder my opponent has been so negative these last few days of the campaign.''
Clinton and Obama began sparring Saturday over health coverage, as Obama aired an advertisement saying Clinton's plan would require people to buy coverage even if they can't afford it.
Both Clinton and Obama favor extending health coverage to the uninsured by opening up the benefits plan offered to members of Congress and federal employees. The difference: Clinton's plan would require those without coverage to purchase it.
Clinton's health plan was on local minds Sunday. Standing before the rally at Linden Street and Elizabeth Avenue in a furry Uncle Sam hat, Linda Frey, 49, of Bethlehem cited its universality as one of the reasons she's backing the former First Lady.
''Obama doesn't have universal health care and Hillary does,'' said Frey, who works at Rodale Press and plays in a cover band called Menopausal Maniacs.
At the same time Clinton was addressing the Liberty High School crowd, her campaign held a conference call to announce a statewide commercial hitting back at Obama's advertisement. The 30-second spot charges that Obama's plan would leave millions of people without coverage.
Clinton also repeated campaign trail criticisms of Obama's vote in favor of a 2005 energy bill.
''When Dick Cheney presented his energy bill (because that's what we thought it was), with billions more in tax subsidies for oil companies, when oil prices were going through the roof, I said 'Wait a moment,' and voted no,'' she said. ''My opponent voted yes. That's a big difference between us.''
The compromise Obama supported also was backed by other Senate Democrats. And it resulted in a small, net tax increase for the oil industry, according to an analysis by the non-partisan site FactCheck.org. Obama and fellow Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin backed the bill because it included funding for home-state projects.
Obama's Pennsylvania spokesman, Sean Smith, dismissed the criticisms Clinton leveled while in Bethlehem. ''We think the voters of Pennsylvania want to hear about solutions to the problems they are facing in their everyday lives,'' he said.
As she has throughout the state's grueling six-week contest, Clinton cast the race between herself and Obama as a choice between changing the nation or keeping it on a course that has led to ballooning deficits and declining prestige abroad.
Political observers have said Clinton needs to win Tuesday's election by double digits to help close a delegate gap with Obama and to convince party chieftains -- who will act as so-called superdelegates at this summer's nominating convention -- that she has the best chance to defeat presumptive Republican nominee John McCain of Arizona.
Gov. Rendell, who is one of those superdelegates, predicted Sunday on CBS-TV's ''Face The Nation'' that Clinton will win by single digits.
''The Lehigh Valley is just like all the rest of Pennsylvania,'' Rendell told the Liberty crowd. ''We want a fighter. We want someone who is smart enough, who is tough enough, to fight the special interests and take back this country for the rest of us.''
Jill Hahn, 55, of Hellertown, said Clinton inspires confidence.
''I truly believe in what Hillary stands for,'' said Hahn, who waited in line for two hours to see Clinton speak. ''I knew it was going to be exciting, and it proved to be very exhilarating to hear her speak.''
Earlier Sunday, Clinton stopped at the Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant in Abington, Montgomery County, where she greeted diners and had bites of an egg white omelet and the house special -- stuffed French toast.
Obama made a brief stop Sunday afternoon in Bethlehem, chatting with well-wishers on Main Street and sampling a beer at Bethlehem Brew Works. Obama was traveling from Reading to Scranton.
Clinton and Obama continue crisscrossing Pennsylvania today. Clinton is appearing in Scranton, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Obama is campaigning in McKeesport and in Pittsburgh.
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