Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Some students left out of an event by Clinton in Dover, N.H.

Some students were shut out of a campaign event by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y) in a community center in Dover, N.H., in which a gymnasium on the third floor was "filled to capacity," according to campaign aides. The event showed Clinton ratcheting up her attacks on her chief rivals, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John Edwards (D-N.C.).

The capacity for the gym was 590, and that is not determined by the size of the room, but rather by the size of the available exits, according to a fire marshal standing at the door.

The gym appeared to be only about three-quarters full, and much of the space was occupied by the traveling press corps. The students were at first not even allowed into a cafeteria overflow room, but some were allowed in later to hear audio of the event.

Those that missed seeing her were told that she may come downstairs and make an appearance, but after waiting for an hour, aides said she would meet them outside by her campaign bus.

Students continued to wait for another half hour, just to see her walk out the door of the building. She just walked by, past protesters holding signs for Reps. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh.) yelling "No more corporate candidates," and onto her bus.

During the event itself, Clinton lit into her rivals early and often. At the debate on Saturday night, "my two leading opponents were finally asked questions," she said. "I got tired of debating 15 times against myself."

Referring again to the debates, she added: "When my opponent says he passed a patient's bill of rights that never actually passed, that isn't making change."

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a presidential candidate in 2004, was at the event, and spoke with reporters prior to Clinton's appearance. He said she was confident about Tuesday's primary.

Asked about whether her funds would dry up if she doesn't win, Clark said "Hillary's going to do great in New Hampshire."

"There's no problem with funding," he added.

No comments: