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Hillary Clinton takes it to the wire, seeks support in 11th-hour Rapid City stop
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FarkSen. Hillary Rodham Clinton made her last in-person pitch to West River Democrats on Monday in Rapid City, urging voters to support her today in the South Dakota primary election and keep believing in her as a presidential candidate this fall.
Clinton worked her way from table to booth to cooing baby through a crowded Tally's Restaurant during her third visit to Rapid City in the suddenly notable South Dakota primary. It was the last of a total of seven campaign stops west of the Missouri River by the New York senator and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Their daughter, Chelsea also campaigned in South Dakota but never made it West River.
As cameras flashed and fans on the sidewalk outside Tally's pressed against the window glass, Clinton -- who arrived in Rapid City from Puerto Rico at about 3:30 a.m. Monday -- said she had gotten to know the city in three visits and liked what she saw.
"I have been so impressed with South Dakota in general and Rapid City in particular," she said during brief remarks. "I'm really impressed with the downtown and all of the sculptures at every corner. It is just so inviting."
Clinton walked in past a bronze sculpture of Ronald Reagan, a president whose popularity extended well beyond the traditional Republican Party base to include support among independents and so-called "Reagan Democrats." Clinton continued to portray herself as the primary candidate most able to replicate that kind of broad voter connection in a general election.
Before heading off to campaign events in Yankton and Sioux Falls, Clinton said she was "more than 300,000 votes ahead" of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, although the Democratic front-runner is within a few dozen delegates of the number needed to be nominated.
Clinton said she would finish strong in the South Dakota primary and "make our case" to all-important Democratic super delegates that she is the candidate most likely to defeat Republican Sen. John McCain in the general election in November.
A good showing in South Dakota will help her move forward with that effort, Clinton said. She had plenty of supporters at Tally's, packed into booths, crowded around tables and lined up on the sidewalks outside.
The Clinton fans included 74-year-old Ruth Schutz of Rapid City, who represents one of Clinton's strongest voting demographics. Schutz also is a regular newspaper letter-writer who suffers profound physical disabilities from multiple sclerosis. She made it to Tally's with the help of her electric wheelchair and a group of friends, waiting for three hours in a cramped, stuffy spot behind a table for to be rewarded by a personal chat with Clinton.
Schutz told Clinton that she had already voted for her on an absentee ballot. Referring to a state law that nullifies absentee ballots cast by voters who die prior to Election Day, Schutz said she was determined to make hers count.
"If I live to midnight tonight, my vote will count. And maybe I cast the winning ballot," she said. "I plan on living."
At the same table, Clinton shook hands with Jeff Fransen, a 39-year-old Rapid City lawyer who once worked as a field staffer for former Sen. Tom Daschle, one of Obama's national campaign co-chairmen. A former Obama supporter himself, Fransen told Clinton that the national media had been unfair to her throughout the campaign and that he admired her for staying in the race.
"You won me over," Fransen said. "The way you fought through everything has been amazing."
At the next table, Clinton held 10-week-old Brison Baird. And it wasn't Brison's first time in the hands of a Clinton. He met Bill Clinton during a May 10 event at Rapid City Stevens High School.
"He got held by Bill Clinton, too," Brison's mother, Tanya Sharp Fish of Rapid City, said. "First Bill, and now Hillary. It was awesome. It's like being held by the pope."
Sharp Fish's friend, Standing Rock tribal member Kellen Returns From Scout of Rapid City, said Obama missed a campaign opportunity by not stopping at a South Dakota reservation. Clinton and her husband made five stops on four reservations.
"I think he assumed that minorities would vote for a minority candidate," Returns From Scout said. "But she has such a great message. And Bill Clinton has been so committed to our cause."
Malcom Chapman, a Rapid City alderman and local Clinton supporter and organizer, said the string of personal visits by Clinton and her family had to help in South Dakota.
"Between the president, Sen. Clinton and Chelsea, it's close to 30 different stops. Per capita, that might be more than any other state in the country," Chapman said. "I think she believes this state is important, and that this vote will matter. And I think it will."Polls
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.
Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com
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