Chelsea Arrives Late To Rally, Leads Crowd To Rec Center Debate

This story was written by Maya Srikrishnan, Daily Texan

She thanked her mother's Texas supporters, encouraged them to tell their friends to vote, then led the rally crowd by car as they marched from the Red River Cafe to UT's Recreational Sports Center, the site of Thursday's Democratic debate, to continue rallying and to show their support.

"I'm loving being in Texas, and I'm so excited for the debate tonight," Clinton said. "Thank you for all you've done and will do in the next 12 days."

Bianca Martinez, a government senior, said she wanted to be Chelsea Clinton when she was little and said it is exciting Chelsea cares about her mother's supporters.

"I've liked Hillary since I've been growing up," Martinez said. "I think she's very experienced, especially in foreign affairs, which is very important to me."

Ellen Richards, daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, and Rock the Vote President Jahmu Greene all spoke in support of Sen. Clinton.

"The train is coming through Texas. The people are going to announce who they want as their next president," Jackson said. "There's a record to speak of when you speak of Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Richards said she was glad that not only women showed up to the rally in support of Clinton.

"We need someone who can roll up her sleeves and do something," she said.

Richards asked the supporters to do two things: to vote early at the Flawn Academic Center before Feb. 29 and then vote again in their precinct on March 4.

Greene said Clinton is almost a native Texan herself.

"What is Austin?" she asked. "Hillary Country."

Green said all of the supporters would march to the debate the way women marched when they couldn't vote.
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