Former New York Senator Hillary Clinton kicked off her campaign to win the April 19th New York state Democratic primary in Harlem this morning, telling supporters at the Apollo Theater this afternoon that “it’s wonderful to be back home.”
In a half-hour speech, Clinton focused on her record of advocacy on behalf of the middle class, and her strong stance against income inequality. The policy proposals of her opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who was never named by Clinton, loomed large during the former Secretary of State’s speech (despite her 71% to 23% lead in the most recent poll).
“My opponent and I share many of the same goals, but some of his ideas for how to get there won’t pass, others just won’t work, because the numbers don’t add up,” Clinton told the crowd filled with fervent supporters and the attendant media scrum of a presidential frontrunner. “And that means people won’t get the help they need and deserve.”
The speech both endorsed the ideas of Senator Sanders—like proposing exit taxes for corporate inversions—and referred to them as impractical or unrealistic, a sentiment shared by many Clinton supporters.
“I like Bernie Sanders, I don’t have anything to say negative about him, I just think Hillary is more qualified,” said Jeanna McGinnis, 35, who was there with her 18-month-old son. “I haven’t juggled, I’ve been a HIllary supporter this entire campaign.”
With a warm-up playlist leaning heavily on Michael Jackson, campaign workers organized the supporters who would be standing behind Clinton, leading them in chants of “It’s time, it’s time, it’s time for a woman in the White House.” Senator Chuck Schumer made an appearance, and retiring Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel got up on the stage to dance, before Hamilton actress Renée Elise Goldsberry sang the national anthem.
(Max Rivlin-Nadler / Gothamist)
Rebecca Hernandez, 31, who attended the event with her uncle, said she was committed to voting for Clinton, but keeping an open mind. “I believe that to be President, you have to be molded for it. I believe that she’s learned a lot from her years of experience in government. I like Bernie though, and that he’s such a Socialist who really cares about other people,” Hernandez said.
Brandon Powers and Nick Day, both 24, stood out from the rest of the crowd. As two young white men, a demographic that has swung heavily for Bernie, they were outliers.
“We knew why people have been looking at us and trying to talk to us,” said Powers. “I hear a lot about Bernie Sanders, especially given my friend group and social networks. So this rally is especially useful in rallying myself this morning. I’m really excited for HIllary because of her wide-range of experience, her foreign policy, her support of anti-gun laws. I find it really important that we have a woman in office.”
“I have not even been tempted by the Bern,” Day added. “Bernie is an admirable person, he’s had a long career of standing up for his values, but that does not a president make. A president is someone who has relationships, a breadth of vision, and being able to talk about any number of issues once they walk into the Oval Office.”
Nick Day (left) and Brandon Powers (Max Rivlin-Nadler / Gothamist)
Clinton ended her speech on a strong and somber note, referencing the xenophobia being spouted by her Republican rivals, and then sharing the story of Mohammad Salman Hamdani, an NYPD cadet and EMT who died on 9/11 after he rushed to the scene to assist first responders.
“Mohammed was an immigrant, he was a New Yorker, and he died trying to help others live,” Clinton said. “It’s up to us to make sure that his sacrifice still counts for something. We do that by standing up against bigotry in all its forms, just like countless New Yorkers do every day, in a million quiet ways. We’re going to stand up for the values that make New York great, and make America great.”
