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Hillary Clinton campaign defends progressive shift in New York speech Hillary Clinton campaign defends progressive shift in New York speech
(1 day later)
Related: Hillary Clinton rally puts spotlight on inequality and progressive causesRelated: Hillary Clinton rally puts spotlight on inequality and progressive causes
Hillary Clinton’s top adviser has defended her apparent shift to the left in recent weeks, as the campaign’s first big speech prompted Republicans to claim Democrats were seeking an effective third term for Barack Obama’s agenda.Hillary Clinton’s top adviser has defended her apparent shift to the left in recent weeks, as the campaign’s first big speech prompted Republicans to claim Democrats were seeking an effective third term for Barack Obama’s agenda.
John Podesta, who served as counsellor to Obama before leaving the White House to chair Clinton’s presidential campaign, insisted the former secretary of state’s full-throated endorsement of progressive causes at a rally in New York on Saturday was not inconsistent with her previously more moderate views when she ran against him in 2008 or was last in the White House as first lady.John Podesta, who served as counsellor to Obama before leaving the White House to chair Clinton’s presidential campaign, insisted the former secretary of state’s full-throated endorsement of progressive causes at a rally in New York on Saturday was not inconsistent with her previously more moderate views when she ran against him in 2008 or was last in the White House as first lady.
“Circumstances change,” Podesta told NBC. “This isn’t 1992. It’s not 2008. It’s 2015 and she will take positions that are consistent with a long-time set of values that have made her a progressive in the best sense of the word.”“Circumstances change,” Podesta told NBC. “This isn’t 1992. It’s not 2008. It’s 2015 and she will take positions that are consistent with a long-time set of values that have made her a progressive in the best sense of the word.”
Clinton has been accused of shifting her views on issues such as same sex marriage, immigration, Iraq and trade, while ramping up her concern for social equality in the face of a primary challenge from the independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and the threatened entry of Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. Clinton has been accused of shifting her views on issues such as same-sex marriage, immigration, Iraq and trade, while ramping up her concern for social equality in the face of a primary challenge from the independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and the threatened entry of Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren.
But in a series of post-event interviews on Sunday, her team sought to reassure supporters that the new populist rhetoric was genuine.But in a series of post-event interviews on Sunday, her team sought to reassure supporters that the new populist rhetoric was genuine.
“I don’t think there is anybody who has been more consistent in her entire career from the day she left law school and went to work for the children’s defence fund,” said Podesta. “She’s fought for children and families and made her priorities clear and her values clear.” “I don’t think there is anybody who has been more consistent in her entire career from the day she left law school and went to work for the Children’s Defense Fund,” said Podesta. “She’s fought for children and families and made her priorities clear and her values clear.”
New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who is expected to run as the most moderate Republican candidate, seized on Clinton’s new-found populism as a potential boost to his ambitions to claim the political centre-ground. New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who is expected to run as the most moderate Republican candidate, seized on Clinton’s newfound populism as a potential boost to his ambitions to claim the political centre-ground.
“I thought that Elizabeth Warren wasn’t running for president,” he joked in an interview with ABC. “But when I listened to Hillary yesterday, it sounds like liberal political consultants put together that speech.”“I thought that Elizabeth Warren wasn’t running for president,” he joked in an interview with ABC. “But when I listened to Hillary yesterday, it sounds like liberal political consultants put together that speech.”
Clinton’s husband Bill also warned against underestimating the strength of the Republican candidates, in a separate interview.Clinton’s husband Bill also warned against underestimating the strength of the Republican candidates, in a separate interview.
“They’re impressive,” he told CNN. “They’ve got a lot of youth, they’ve got a lot of energy, they’ve got some significant diversity and they’re no dummies.”“They’re impressive,” he told CNN. “They’ve got a lot of youth, they’ve got a lot of energy, they’ve got some significant diversity and they’re no dummies.”
But the two-term Democratic president, who ran on an agenda perhaps at times closer to Christie’s than his wife’s new position, was rock solid in his defence of her against attacks on her trustworthiness. But the two-term Democratic president, who ran on an agenda perhaps at times closer to Christie’s than his wife’s new position, was rock-solid in his defence of her against attacks on her trustworthiness.
“I trust her with my life, and have on more than one occasion,” he said. “A, I know her. B, I know the truth. And C, I trust the American people.”“I trust her with my life, and have on more than one occasion,” he said. “A, I know her. B, I know the truth. And C, I trust the American people.”