Nov 2, 2008 8:17 am US/Eastern
Hillary Clinton Campaigns In Miami
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
With polls showing the tightening race in Florida, both campaigns are leaving nothing to chance. Senator Hillary Clinton returned to Florida to campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama days before Election Day.
"It took a democratic president to clean up after the first Bush; it will take a democrat to clean up after this Bush," Clinton said to South Florida supporters.
The campaign stop got off to a rough start for the former First Lady. Clinton was supposed to address a crowd at the Miami-Dade auditorium on West Flagler Street Saturday morning. About 200 people were lined up outside the auditorium to hear Clinton speak when the campaign said her plane was running behind schedule. So she combined two stops into one rally; the appearance was moved to the Old San Juan restaurant on SW 57th Avenue.
Nonetheless, the crowd waiting to see her was enthusiastic. "I think she brings 18 million voters, 18 million people. She brings experience and confidence to the campaign," described Obama supporter Patty Barbetta.
"I think it's exciting as a Korean-American, because we generally vote republican," said Hannah Cho. "But people want change and it's a testament to Barack Obama."
"We're here for good food and company and to make a last push to elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden," Clinton said. "I've told everyone if you supported me, you have more in common with Senator Obama than you do with Senator McCain!"
Not everybody there was an instant Obama-convert. Women like Kriss Smith voted for Hillary in the primary. Smith described her transition from Hillary-supporter to Obama-supporter. "The more Hillary talked, I started looking at Obama. And the more I learned, I could vote for Obama without reservation."
As Clinton raced off to her next campaign stop in Orlando, more than a few in the South Florida crowd said they expected to see Clinton again at the top, leading the Democratic ticket in 2012.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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