Hillary Rodham Clinton
Granddaughter of a Millworker
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., campaigns at Scranton High School in Scranton, Pa., Monday, March 10, 2008.(AP.)
By Perry Bacon Jr.
SCRANTON, Penn. -- The Senator from New York who grew up in Chicago but lived her adult life in Arkansas and Washington now is bragging of her roots in another place: Scranton, Pennsylvania.
"When my grandfather was 11 years old, he went to work in the lace mills," Clinton told a crowd of more than a thousand at a high school here Monday night. "He worked in the Scranton lace mills for his entire life until he retired when he was about 65. He worked in the mills for 54 years, every single day, all six days, Monday through Saturday."
She described her own August vacations in the cottage her grandfather built on nearby, saying "it was a great place to be a kid," recited the address where her grandfather had lived and in rare personal terms noted that her late father who grew up in the area was not in attendance but "here in spirit."
Clinton has touted her personal connections to numerous states as they she has campaigned in them, such as Iowa (her Midwestern upbringing), Massachusetts (she went to college there), Connecticut (law school) and Texas (she was an aide on the campaign of Sen. George McGovern).
Pennsylvania may be the most important place in the tour of Hillary's life. Clinton's campaign, aware it can only win the Democratic race by appealing to so-called superdelegates, the 800 Democratic officials who get votes in the nomination process and could tip it to either Clinton or Barack Obama, would like to get the Keystone State in the win column so she could claim she has taken primaries in crucial swing states Democrats will need in November such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.
And Clinton, who cast herself as the working class hero in Ohio, is likely to do so again here. But with Democrats choosing not to embrace the son of a millworker -- John Edwards -- early this year, questions remain about whether the granddaughter of a millworker will meet with more success.
Posted at 10:25 AM ET on Mar 11, 2008
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Comments
Posted by: Ethan kbnvp | April 10, 2008 5:39 AM | Report abuse
Vote for Hillary. We do not want another republican in the white house. She is a good women. All this crap said about her is gop spin.
Posted by: pcdent | March 12, 2008 3:00 AM | Report abuse
Vote for Hillary. We do not want another republican in the white house. She is a good women. All this crap said about her is gop spin.
Posted by: pcdent | March 12, 2008 2:00 AM | Report abuse
I agree with jack smith. Republicans are screwing with the democrat primary. They have been beat twice by the clintons. They do not want to run against Hillary. They will eat Obama alive. I think maybe obama has done much better then they anticipated. So look out Obama if he gets the nomination. Rush Limbough and others are trying to rein in some of the Obama support by openly telling republicans to vote for hillary. This is their plan to win in the fall. Please, young people, think about this. It's like a chess game.
Posted by: pcdent | March 12, 2008 1:54 AM | Report abuse
I was once told, that the definition of stupidity was to do the same thing over and over again - while expecting a different result each time.
If we want to bring real change and unity to the country, we need to elect new people to our government. Obama is the only one, who has been consistently doing this; The only one, who has a new vision for politics and this country.
Hillary keeps falling back into the same old dirty politics and slander. I wouldn't want my children to grow up in the country Hillary wants to create.
Posted by: wolfi101 | March 11, 2008 10:27 PM | Report abuse
This "Big State" argument has become silly.
Size Matters | The Colbert Report
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=163288
Posted by: jkbowman | March 11, 2008 8:46 PM | Report abuse
DON'T BE DUPED!!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very fast.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don't want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care. So they can make more profit for them-self.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama's. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON'T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket now! All democrats need to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton. So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
Fortunately the Clinton's have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton's. Only the Clinton's are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
You should be angry America. "This is not a game" (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
Posted by: JackSmith1 | March 11, 2008 4:20 PM | Report abuse
OBAMA WILL BE GO TO JAIL FOR HIS DEAL WITH LUM LAND LORD
Posted by: ermias.kifle | March 11, 2008 2:35 PM | Report abuse
oBAMA IS a mUSLIM
Posted by: ermias.kifle | March 11, 2008 2:34 PM | Report abuse
Wow, nice job representing Obama, ablackstormy. That's what I like about you guys; you put down anyone and everyone with a disturbing amount of venom. Didn't realize elitism was so prevalent among you 'latte liberals'.
Posted by: jcmdstep1 | March 11, 2008 2:07 PM | Report abuse
bad memories of monika and bill brought up again thanks to gov. client #9!!!
Posted by: p.brosig | March 11, 2008 1:31 PM | Report abuse
HRC has Scranton roots? I guess that helps explain a few things about her.
Bear in mind that Scranton was a close runner-up to Battle Mountain, NV, when WaPo announced the offical "Armpit of America" a few years ago. That Scranton didn't win outright was attributed to the Scrantonites' (Scrantonians?) tendency to be defiantly proud of their city's total lack of merit.
They know their town sucks and they don't care--it's not their problem, it's yours, and if you don't like it you can take a hike over to Wilkes-Barre thank-you-very-much.
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?
Posted by: ablackstormy | March 11, 2008 1:02 PM | Report abuse
To all you "Obama is unelectable... he can't win the big states!" folks. Do me a favor. Look at the area on the WaPo Politics section where they list the current polling results.
It shows Clinton ahead of Obama by about 12 points in Pennsylvania.
But wait... it also contains information on polls pitting Obama vs. McCain and Clinton vs. McCain in a general election battle IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Obama beats McCain by 2 points. McCain beats Clinton by less than a point.
If Obama can't win Pennsylvania in a general election matchup, why is he ahead in the polls while Clinton is behind? All while Clinton leads in the polls in the primaries?
I welcome the explanation.
My guess... Not all the folks voting for Clinton in April will be voting for her in November....
Posted by: steveboyington | March 11, 2008 12:46 PM | Report abuse
Thanks to NAFTA and the WTO HRC's grandpa could forget about working in the mills today. Those jobs have been shipped to slave labor camps in China and Hillary is just okay with that. Today he could work at Burger King and look forward to his grandaughter garnishing his wages for health insurance he couldn't afford.
http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Posted by: twocanpete | March 11, 2008 11:41 AM | Report abuse
I wonder if there is a human alive today who, giving a speech in a place they lived or worked, wouldn't mention it. Which raises the question, why does Bacon write this:"Clinton has touted her personal connections to numerous states as they she has campaigned in them, such as Iowa (her Midwestern upbringing), Massachusetts (she went to college there), Connecticut (law school) and Texas (she was an aide on the campaign of Sen. George McGovern)"
I believe he intends to weaken her connection by implying it's just another political calculation from the inhuman political calculating triangulator. Of course, one is left to wonder, why does a journalist feel this is appropriate in his professional capacity?
Posted by: zukermand | March 11, 2008 11:36 AM | Report abuse
GAME OVER.
Hillary Rodham Clinton has proven she can win big in the big states that are the must wins for the Dems in November.
Obama failed to close the deal. If you can't win in states like Ohio, where Obama outspent Hillary 3 to 1 yet still won ONLY 5 out of 88 counties in Ohio, you cannot win the Presidency. No amount of money is ever going to get Obama the 50% plus of the vote he needs to win a general election.
Obama is UNELECTABLE. Obama is not qualified to be President, Vice-President or a U.S. Senator. After the Rezko trial is over, I'll bet Obama can't even get re-elected in Illinois.
Posted by: TAH1 | March 11, 2008 11:31 AM | Report abuse
davidmwe:
If Obama cannot win a single State larger than his own (Illinois), the super delegates will likely take that into consideration to remedy any of the fuzzy math. Don't you worry about it.
Posted by: JakeD | March 11, 2008 11:25 AM | Report abuse
I am not so sure JakeD. Check this out:
Hillary's New Math Problem
http://www.newsweek.com/id/119010/page/1
Posted by: davidmwe | March 11, 2008 11:12 AM | Report abuse
I wonder if Edwards knew this about Clinton before she announced it in Scranton...
Posted by: ericp331 | March 11, 2008 11:10 AM | Report abuse
It doesn't matter if she wins by 20+ percentage points -- as long as she wins all the BIG STATES -- go Hillary DIANE Clinton!!!
Posted by: JakeD | March 11, 2008 11:01 AM | Report abuse
She does have an interesting story for PA, but will she be able to win by 20+ percentage points?
Pennsylvania Primary- Hillary vs. Barack:
The Google Factor...
http://newsusa.myfeedportal.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=57
Posted by: davidmwe | March 11, 2008 11:00 AM | Report abuse
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