ABC: Bill and Hillary Raising a Million Dollars in NYC, Can't Beat a Twofer

Bill Clinton Makes Rare Fundraising Pitch for Hillary

March 19, 2007 — At the center of a sea of hundreds of tables Sunday evening, former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., stood side-by-side on a tiny stage while he told a crowd of more than a thousand why they should continue to support his wife's bid for the White House.

The packed ballroom at a Sheraton in midtown Manhattan was the first big fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's campaign to be hosted by her best known supporter. It was one of the few times the two have been seen in the same place in public since she announced she would run for president.

"We elect a president if the person running would be the best president," Bill Clinton told the crowd. "You will never find anybody that will do it better than her."

Clinton spoke about his wife's work with children over the years and her popularity overseas as a strong proponent of women's rights.

"I still find myself in small places in Africa, Asia, Latin America," he said, "and a woman will come up and say 'I'll never forget … when she said women's rights were human rights."

The former president kept his remarks short — no doubt to avoid overshadowing the woman actually running for election.

Hillary Clinton spoke for about 20 minutes, on topics ranging from education to health care to Iraq and the need for better leadership in the country.

"It has been a difficult time for America because we haven't had leadership that has asked us to think to reach higher, to be more than we can be individually and we've been without the kind of guidance that leadership should provide to set goals for our country. We used to set goals in America," Clinton told the crowd.

She said that following the Sept. 11 attacks "people were looking for some direction. What were we going to do together? How were we going to respond?…And what were we asked to do?" She paused and then said, "Go shopping."

"I think America is ready to be asked to do something besides go shopping," were her final words at the event.

Continued

New York City: The Bronx has Hillary's Back

Clinton Finds Support In The Bronx, But Can't Take Black Voters For Granted

NY1

March 12, 2007

The leading Democrat running for president was in the Bronx Wednesday. Despite what some think, there was no shortage of supporters. Meanwhile the frontrunner for the GOP nomination picked up an endorsement that could prove very helpful. NY1 Political reporter Rita Nissan filed the following report.

Senator Hillary Clinton has her supporters in the Bronx and at least one prominent critic.

“I will go so far as to say being from Bronx County, Clinton is certainly taking the African American vote for granted,” said Bronx Councilwoman Helen Foster.

At an appearance in the borough, Clinton wouldn't get into Foster's comment.

“I'm going to let people speak for themselves,” she said.

The African American vote is crucial for Clinton. But, blacks are a natural constituency for her top rival for the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama. Still many in the Bronx say they will vote for Clinton.

“If there was voting today for president, I would be right there,” said one African-American woman from the Bronx.

“I think that's a good idea for a woman to be running for president,” added another.

Clinton promises she'll be a tough president. She responded strongly to Halliburton's decision to move to Dubai. Vice President Dick Cheney once ran the oil company.

“I think it is disgraceful that American companies are more than happy to try to get no-bid contracts like Halliburton has and then turn around and say, but you know, we are not going to stay with our Chief Executive Officer or the President of our company in the United States anymore,” said Clinton.

On the Republican side, another New Yorker running for president picked up a key endorsement. Louisiana Senator David Vitter says he's backing former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani despite the former mayor's liberal views on social issues.

Vitter's backing could help Giuliani win over Republicans, skeptical because he's for abortion, gun control and gay rights.

– Rita Nissan