“I have just one question for you folks: are you people ready for Hillary?”
Democratic Rep. Gary Peters yelled to an ecstatic crowd at a rally with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Oakland University.
Attracting the highest-profile Democrats in the land, the race between Peters and former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to represent Michigan is in its final throes. Clinton came to Oakland, Michigan in the wake of a visit by First Lady Michelle Obama just prior. Last week, former President Bill Clinton gave a speech in Flint to support Peters and gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer. This Saturday, President Barack Obama will visit Detroit to stump for the Democratic ticket.
“Michigan is where the American middle class was born, and this is where it can thrive again,” Clinton said to cheers. “There is honor in work and dignity in every human being. And everyone deserves, not just a chance, but second chance and even a third chance at a better life. Nobody embodies the dignity of work more than Michigan.”
There is no doubt that the crowd of about 3,000 was ready for Hillary — and Schauer and Peters too. Clinton received a hero’s welcome, but attendees seemed just as enthusiastic over Schauer and Peters as they were over the headline speaker.
“Michigan deserves leaders who are as tough and resilient as the people of this state are, and that’s what you will get with Mark and Gary,” Clinton said.
Candidates from the statewide Democratic ticket gave short speeches at the rally, including those running for judgeships, state legislature representatives, and education board. Most catered sentiments to the working class, with passionate pleas for justice, equality, and civil rights.
“I will never forget that the Koch Brothers and my opponent said that they would not support the auto rescue that we dealt with a few years ago,” Peters said, to a booing crowd, criticising Land for her opposition to Obama’s bailout bill. “They must say that they would not stand for the number one industry in our state.”
The Michigan Republican Party responded with criticism of their own:
“Mark Schauer and Gary Peters ought to be ashamed they stood with leading liberal Hillary Clinton today,” said Michigan GOP Chairman Bobby Schostack. “If they truly had Michigan interests at the heart of their agendas, they would know she is the worst kind of Democrat to bring to this state. What we are seeing from Governor Rick Snyder, Terri Lynn Land, and Michigan’s Comeback Team are policies that have moved us forward on the path toward recovery. As Republicans forge ahead, Democrats will look back on today and regret they sided with the out-of-touch Hillary Clinton over Michigan families.”
CBS News puts Peters eight points ahead of Land in its most recent poll — his lowest lead since early this month. The voters at Oakland were ready to taste victory, chanting:
“When we vote, we win. When we vote, we win. When we vote, we win.”
