The place was packed! I’m just back from the opening of Hillary Clinton’s DC Headquarters at 1227 Pennsylvania Ave., SE next door to where Obama opened a HQ in DC 8 years ago on the way to a 75% showing in the 2008 DC primary. This year, DC’s primary is on June 14, the last in the nation.
A crowd of about 175 (including some very loud and creative Code Pink demonstrators) heard brief speeches from Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Norton emphasized Hillary’s long record of support for DC voting rights and statehood. Citizens of DC pay Federal taxes but have no voting reptresentation in Congress. Congress also interferes constantly with local DC policy matters such as limiting DC’s policy of legal marijuana, funding for women who need financial assistance for health care including reproductive rights and needle exchange programs to reduce disease among drug addicts. (I’d be interested in knowing if Sen. Sanders supports DC statehood. I bet he supports it but it would be great to hear him speak to the issue.)
There was real enthusiasm for Hillary in the crowd and spontanious cheers erupted “Hiil-a-ree, Hill-a-ree”, “Hillary for Statehood” and “Norton for VP.” Speakers also hailed DC volunteers who will travel to the swing state of Virginia in the fall to campaign for Hillary (or, no doubt for Bernie Sanders if he is the nominee). A theme in the remarks by local politicians was that Hillary is not taking DC for granted and that she believes that residents of the nation’s capitol should have the same rights as other US citizens. Eight years ago President Obama supported DC voting rights but, frankly, has done almost nothing to advance the cause (I say that as a former Co-Chair of DC for Obama). Speakers at Hillary’s HQ opening emphasized that her commitment to equality for DC is real and long standing, not just political posturing.
I believe that it is realistic for Hillary to equal or surpass Obama’s 75% vote in 2008 when DC votes on June 14.