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Hillary Clinton heckled by immigration activists at latest stop in campaign tour Hillary Clinton heckled by immigration activists at latest stop in campaign tour
(about 1 hour later)
Hillary Clinton was repeatedly heckled during a campaign stop on Thursday after immigration reform activists took turns to interrupt her speech before being escorted out of an auditorium by police.Hillary Clinton was repeatedly heckled during a campaign stop on Thursday after immigration reform activists took turns to interrupt her speech before being escorted out of an auditorium by police.
The coordinated protest during a rally for Maryland gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown, involved about two dozen students dotted around the audience who intermittently shouted at Clinton and held aloft placards that read “Put Families Over Politics”.The coordinated protest during a rally for Maryland gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown, involved about two dozen students dotted around the audience who intermittently shouted at Clinton and held aloft placards that read “Put Families Over Politics”.
Hecklers are not uncommon at political rallies and Clinton, a strong advocate of comprehensive immigration reform who enjoys strong popularity ratings among Latinos, has been pursued repeatedly by the campaign group United We Dream, which claimed responsibility for the protest.Hecklers are not uncommon at political rallies and Clinton, a strong advocate of comprehensive immigration reform who enjoys strong popularity ratings among Latinos, has been pursued repeatedly by the campaign group United We Dream, which claimed responsibility for the protest.
Activists affiliated with the group interrupted Clinton five days ago, in North Carolina. They did the same again at a fundraiser in New York last month.Activists affiliated with the group interrupted Clinton five days ago, in North Carolina. They did the same again at a fundraiser in New York last month.
However reporters who followed Clinton as she has criss-crossed the nation during this election cycle, described Thursday’s intervention as the most sustained heckling campaign to date.However reporters who followed Clinton as she has criss-crossed the nation during this election cycle, described Thursday’s intervention as the most sustained heckling campaign to date.
Mario Carillo, a spokesman for United We Dream, said that while he recognised Clinton supported immigration reform, she had been “pretty silent” on whether Barack Obama should use his executive authority to further suspend deportations against undocumented migrants.Mario Carillo, a spokesman for United We Dream, said that while he recognised Clinton supported immigration reform, she had been “pretty silent” on whether Barack Obama should use his executive authority to further suspend deportations against undocumented migrants.
For the most part, Clinton looked unperturbed, and took the interruptions in her stride. With the possible exception of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, few Democratic surrogates have been as in demand in the midterm campaigns as Hillary Clinton.For the most part, Clinton looked unperturbed, and took the interruptions in her stride. With the possible exception of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, few Democratic surrogates have been as in demand in the midterm campaigns as Hillary Clinton.
In the last seven weeks, she has stumped in Kentucky, New York, New Hampshire, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina – and turned up twice in Iowa and Colorado.In the last seven weeks, she has stumped in Kentucky, New York, New Hampshire, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina – and turned up twice in Iowa and Colorado.
This weekend, Clinton will travel again to both Kentucky and New Hampshire, in support of Democrats Alison Lundergan Grimes and Jeanne Shaheen. She also squeezed in a stop in New Orleans to back Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu. This weekend, Clinton will travel again to both Kentucky and New Hampshire, in support of Democrats Alison Lundergan Grimes and Jeanne Shaheen. She will also squeeze in a stop in New Orleans to back Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu.
Political analysts expect immigration reform to be one of the key political issues that will shape the 2016 election cycle. It is likely to be most problematic for Republicans, who are sharply divided over what to do with America’s estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.Political analysts expect immigration reform to be one of the key political issues that will shape the 2016 election cycle. It is likely to be most problematic for Republicans, who are sharply divided over what to do with America’s estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.
In Maryland, the former secretary of state was interrupted six consecutive times during her 17 minute speech; mostly the hecklers were inaudible, and on each occasion the protesters refused to move until they were escorted out of the gymnasium, at the University of Maryland.In Maryland, the former secretary of state was interrupted six consecutive times during her 17 minute speech; mostly the hecklers were inaudible, and on each occasion the protesters refused to move until they were escorted out of the gymnasium, at the University of Maryland.
The first interruption of Clinton’s speech – roughly five minutes in – was the most disruptive. Eleven students near the front of the audience began shouting at Clinton before marching out of the room.The first interruption of Clinton’s speech – roughly five minutes in – was the most disruptive. Eleven students near the front of the audience began shouting at Clinton before marching out of the room.
She initially engaged with the activists, telling them: “You know, immigration is an important issue.” As they were ushered out of the auditorium, she added: “You know, if they had just waited a little while I was getting to the Dream Act.”She initially engaged with the activists, telling them: “You know, immigration is an important issue.” As they were ushered out of the auditorium, she added: “You know, if they had just waited a little while I was getting to the Dream Act.”
“As I senator I was proud to co-sponsor the national Dream Act and to vote for it. I am a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. And I believe that we have to fix our broken immigration system.” She added she was in favour of “bringing millions of hardworking people out of the shadows”.“As I senator I was proud to co-sponsor the national Dream Act and to vote for it. I am a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. And I believe that we have to fix our broken immigration system.” She added she was in favour of “bringing millions of hardworking people out of the shadows”.
Thereafter, Clinton’s strategy was to talk over the succession of hecklers – a response aided by the audience, who drowned out the intruders with chants of “Hillary”. For portions of the speech, both Clinton and the hecklers were downed out by a crowd of several hundred, booing the interruptions, or imploring Clinton to continue regardless.Thereafter, Clinton’s strategy was to talk over the succession of hecklers – a response aided by the audience, who drowned out the intruders with chants of “Hillary”. For portions of the speech, both Clinton and the hecklers were downed out by a crowd of several hundred, booing the interruptions, or imploring Clinton to continue regardless.
The former First Lady is widely expected to seek the Democratic nomination for president but said she will not make her decision until the new year.The former First Lady is widely expected to seek the Democratic nomination for president but said she will not make her decision until the new year.
Clinton’s choice of midterm campaign stops have been in support of a mix of Democrats close to the Clintons and those most in need of a boost ahead of the 4 November poll. But the itinerary has also placed Clinton in the crucial states that come early in the party’s primary and caucus nomination calendar – such as Iowa and New Hampshire – as well as several more that are likely to be swing states in the 2016 presidential election.Clinton’s choice of midterm campaign stops have been in support of a mix of Democrats close to the Clintons and those most in need of a boost ahead of the 4 November poll. But the itinerary has also placed Clinton in the crucial states that come early in the party’s primary and caucus nomination calendar – such as Iowa and New Hampshire – as well as several more that are likely to be swing states in the 2016 presidential election.
Maryland is neither, but Clinton’s appearance in the state was important for other reasons.Maryland is neither, but Clinton’s appearance in the state was important for other reasons.
Brown, the current lieutenant governor, is in a knife-edge battle against Republican Larry Logan, and the Maryland gubernatorial race has consequently sucked in heavyweights from both parties.Brown, the current lieutenant governor, is in a knife-edge battle against Republican Larry Logan, and the Maryland gubernatorial race has consequently sucked in heavyweights from both parties.
Both president Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton have campaigned with Brown in recent weeks. First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak at a rally for the Democratic candidate in Baltimore on Monday.Both president Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton have campaigned with Brown in recent weeks. First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak at a rally for the Democratic candidate in Baltimore on Monday.
Meanwhile, Hogan has been accompanied on the campaign trail by New Jersey governor and possible Republican presidential contender Chris Christie.Meanwhile, Hogan has been accompanied on the campaign trail by New Jersey governor and possible Republican presidential contender Chris Christie.
Maryland was also noteworthy for Clinton as it is the home state of one of her few possible rivals for the Democratic presidential ticket, outgoing governor Martin O’Malley.Maryland was also noteworthy for Clinton as it is the home state of one of her few possible rivals for the Democratic presidential ticket, outgoing governor Martin O’Malley.
Few observers believe Maryland has anything more than a slim chance of challenging Clinton’s dominance as candidate-in-waiting; a recent poll showed even 63% of Maryland Democrats would choose Clinton for president, compared to just 3% for O’Malley. Few observers believe the Maryland governor has anything more than a slim chance of challenging Clinton’s dominance as candidate-in-waiting; a recent poll showed even 63% of Maryland Democrats would choose Clinton for president, compared to just 3% for O’Malley.
Clinton’s naysayers argue that the former First Lady, who was last in the White House in 2000, and will be 69 in 2016, still needs to convince the millennial voters like the students who packed into the gymnasium on Thursday, boosted by Northwestern high school’s marching brass band.Clinton’s naysayers argue that the former First Lady, who was last in the White House in 2000, and will be 69 in 2016, still needs to convince the millennial voters like the students who packed into the gymnasium on Thursday, boosted by Northwestern high school’s marching brass band.
But if Thursday’s event was a guide, it is O’Malley, who appears destined to spend the next 18 months as Clinton’s understudy, who faces a harder challenge in energising Maryland’s younger voters.But if Thursday’s event was a guide, it is O’Malley, who appears destined to spend the next 18 months as Clinton’s understudy, who faces a harder challenge in energising Maryland’s younger voters.
Appearing on stage immediately before Clinton, he told baffled-looking students about a Youtube video he thought they should watch, and then introduced Brown’s running-mate, Ken Ulman. It was the most subdued part of the hour-long event.Appearing on stage immediately before Clinton, he told baffled-looking students about a Youtube video he thought they should watch, and then introduced Brown’s running-mate, Ken Ulman. It was the most subdued part of the hour-long event.
“When I came on, they told me they need me to come back off, then come back on again,” he told the audience, assuring them of his continued role in proceedings. “Then the band is gonna play a bit more, then we’re going to bring on the people you’ve come to see: Anthony Brown and Hillary Clinton.”“When I came on, they told me they need me to come back off, then come back on again,” he told the audience, assuring them of his continued role in proceedings. “Then the band is gonna play a bit more, then we’re going to bring on the people you’ve come to see: Anthony Brown and Hillary Clinton.”
Clinton and O’Malley both complimented one another in their speeches. Tellingly, perhaps, they didn’t share the stage.Clinton and O’Malley both complimented one another in their speeches. Tellingly, perhaps, they didn’t share the stage.