MISSOULA, MONT. — Sen. Hillary Clinton told supporters she is a “fighter for America” and described the United States as a “can do” nation during an hourlong town hall meeting Sunday at Neptune Aviation near the Missoula International Airport.
“I believe that America is worth fighting for,” she told a crowd of more than 2,000 people.
Clinton’s voice was hoarse after a late-night speech Saturday at the Montana Democratic Party’s annual dinner in Butte, the Missoulian newspaper reported on its website. Her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama, also spoke at the Butte event, in addition to holding a Saturday morning rally in Missoula that packed more than 7,500 into the University of Montana’s sports arena.
At Sunday’s town hall meeting, Clinton touched on many of the themes in her Saturday speech, including the need for an investment in clean energy, an end to the No Child Left Behind program and a reciprocal and accountable trade agreement, the Missoulian reported.
She took the stage with Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss and state Sen. Carol Williams of Missoula, Montana’s first female Senate majority leader.
Clinton reminded attendees that Montana also elected the nation’s first female state House majority leader and that Missoula County had the first all-female county commission. She also mentioned the nation’s first female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin of Missoula.
“Remember, Jeannette Rankin was elected before women could vote … so who says men won’t vote for a woman?” Clinton asked.
Clinton also told the audience that the United States needs a president “who we can hold accountable.” She said she is the only candidate left committed to universal health care, the only one with a plan to address the home-foreclosure crisis and the only one who opposed the vice president’s energy plan.
Supporter Dean Leary, 58, a teacher from Sheridan, said he believes Clinton will fight for the “common people” and “bring home the troops from Iraq.” “Let’s get our soldiers home and start rebuilding this country,” he said.
Clinton’s appearance ended just before 1 p.m., bringing to a close the weekend of Montana campaign appearances by Clinton and Obama.
Clinton began Sunday with a fundraiser at Missoula’s Hilton Garden Inn. Tickets for that event ranged from $250 to $1,000 per person.
