In Texas, Clinton Has Trouble Packing the House
HIDALGO, TEXAS -- Hillary Clinton arrived to a much smaller crowd at rally at Dodge Arena this evening, compared to just one week ago at a rally in El Paso where Clinton drew over 10,000 people to the University of Texas. But in Hidalgo, where the arena seats 6,800 in a concert setting, the attendance was much less than that and made painfully obvious by the several hundred seats that were empty.
Whether this has any relation to the fact that Clinton has lost 10 contests in a row to Barack Obama, is unclear. But judging by the crowd, there is cause for concern for Clinton as the city of Hidalgo is just 2 miles from the Mexican border, making this an area with a high Hispanic population, a group that has traditionally been a key base of support for Clinton and a group she will need in order to win the Lone Star State on March 4th.
Clinton delivered a shorter version of her speech with less bite than the one she gave in New York earlier today. She focused on issues important to Hispanics like the economy, immigration and education saying, "I am committed to Hispanic voters."
She drew her usual contrasts between her and Obama, primarily pointing out that her health care plan covers all Americans and claiming that Obama's leaves out millions of Americans. "I don't want to leave anyone out," Clinton told the crowd, which erupted in loud applause.
As Clinton wrapped up her remarks, she gave a final plea to supporters urging them to vote early (Texas has an early voting program) and to talk to their friends and tell them that she is "better prepared to be the president and commander-in-chief."
Clinton thanked the crowd and as she walked of the stage the song "Get On Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan blared over the speakers. But in a crowd where the majority of the people were of Mexican descent, it might have been more appropriate for the campaign to have played a selection from a Mexican-born singer, not the Cuban-born Estefan.