Hillary Clinton is speaking in Fort Pierce, Florida, about “her vision for an America that is stronger together and an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.”
C-SPAN is livestreaming the event here.
Rumor had it CNN was showing it. They’re not, at least not yet.
4 battleground polls from today (all conducted after the debate):FL: Clinton +4MI: Clinton +7NV: Clinton +6NH: Clinton +7— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) September 30, 2016
4 battleground polls from today (all conducted after the debate):FL: Clinton +4MI: Clinton +7NV: Clinton +6NH: Clinton +7
Clinton thanking all the electeds, all the volunteers, everyone who’s shown up, and local officials. Hits a local issue, and algae bloom that threatened the Treasure Coast. Nice to pick up on something happening there, locally.
Just 39 days left in the most important election in our lifetime…. We have to make every day count. Registration, GOTV, reaching out to make sure everyone knows the issues.
Campaign comes down to two questions: What kind of future do we want and how do we make it a reality.
Gets huge response when she asks how many people saw the debate.
Launches in to the contrasts between her and Trump’s views, hitting on the main theme of a positive, optimistic outlook and Trump, and how he thinks we have a “hopeless, broken nation.”
Talks about Trump’s admiration of Putin, his “only I can fix it” attitude. Turns to her inclusive approach, asks crowd “how many of you have provided some kind of service?” Talks about how many Americans volunteer. “We are doers. We don’t just shrug our shoulders when we something that needs fixing...find scapegoats. We get to work.”
Everything good that has ever happened in our country has happened because of good people getting together.
Continues talking about national service, the “stronger together” theme.
Reminds crowd that AmeriCorps was created by her husband, and how much work they’ve done around the country since. Says they’ll reach a milestone next week—their 1 millionth volunteer.
Talks about the Peace Corps volunteers who are also in the crowd. And rounds back to the spirit of volunteerism, service.
Boy, is she hitting the contrast this morning. She doesn’t even have to bring up the Trump rage tweeting binge to point up the differences between these campaigns, candidates.
Now she’s hitting sort of an Obamaesque theme—about the divides in the country and how they can be bridged through services. How volunteering can get people out of their regular circles. Wants to encourage and strengthen the culture of service in America to that end.
Says America is exceptional because of the generosity and innovation of our people.
“I want to build on that strength, by making a push for more national service.” How she’ll do it: Triple AmeriCorps, Ted Kennedy’s goal. “It’s finally time we get it done.”
Ties student loans—will tie national service to loan forgiveness so college graduates have the opportunity to serve.
Next, let’s grow the Peace Corps. “We need more Americans of all ages around the world sharing our values.”
Third, expand service opportunities to people of all ages.
Says she’s met lots of young business owners who are committed to giving back to the community. Her plan gives student loan forgiveness for people starting businesses in low-income communities. Now talks about how people over age 55 can contribute, will open AmeriCorps slots to these people. And finally, create ways for people to serve in not-full-time roles, using the national guard as the model. A “national service reserve.”
So this would create a volunteer group of people to answer the national or local call for natural disaster, major public health campaigns, etc. This will “address a vital need in your community” while still allowing you to work full time or do whatever else you’re doing.
She’s hitting the optimism, the idea that we’re a great nation working together for the greater good, really hard. Again, there couldn’t be a bigger difference than what Trump has been doing.
Now she’s turning to Trump. “I don’t think you’ll be hearing anything about this from my opponent.” Talks about the bipartisan history of all the service programs in the nation’s history. But she’s pretty much leaving the Trump business at that.
Says she’s focusing on national service with just 39 days left to go because “I did not want this campaign to end without talking about it…. This is really close to my heart.”
“We all deserve respect. We all should listen to each other. We all should make our mark on the world.” “Stronger together is more than a slogan, it’s a course of action.” She is pledging that this will be a “vital aspect” of her presidency. This is “what’s great and good about America. We are great because we are good.”
“39 days left. This is the choice. Do we lift each other up, or do we tear each other down? … We’re going to demonstrate on November 8 what kind of country we really are.”
It was all (almost) sweetness and light. She’s really driving home how awful Trump is not by talking about him directly, but taking the highroad. Which will probably drive him nuts.