Former president Bill Clinton addresses over 1,500 supporters who attended democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s “Get Out the Vote” rally at SUNY Binghamton on Saturday. (Photos by Wendy Post)
Supporters of democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton crowd the gym at SUNY Binghamton on Saturday as her husband, former president Bill Clinton campaigns.
On Saturday evening, and following stops in Albany, Watertown and Syracuse, former president Bill Clinton made a stop at Binghamton University to campaign for his wife, democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The stop in Vestal and the others across New York State are part of a “Get Out the Vote” effort of Hillary’s campaign.
The Clinton campaign stop followed an earlier visit by democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Monday. The two will by vying for votes in delegate rich New York on Tuesday.
Guests arriving for the event at Binghamton University’s West Gym in Vestal on Saturday ranged in ages from young to old – all arriving to either support the campaign or just to learn what the campaign will say to help get out their vote.
Chris Conlon arrived at West Gym at 4:15 p.m. from Owego. He’s been a lifelong Clinton follower his entire life. It is the first time he will have made it to one of their speaking events.
“Glad I came early for this, there was a lot of people outside waiting,” said Conlon, who is retired from the United States Post Office.
David Darrah, from Owego, arrived at Binghamton University at 4:15 p.m. to make sure he could get inside.
Darrah and Conlon were among the other supporters that arrived at the gym. Originally, they filled one half of the gym, which has a capacity of 825, but then decided to open up the other side of the gym, which has a capacity of 1,000.
Bill Clinton has been in the area twice, once to campaign for his wife in Johnson City in 2000 when she was running for the New York State Senate Seat. The second stop was in 2010, when Congressman Maurice Hinchey was running for re-election. Bill Clinton arrived at the Holiday Inn in Binghamton, N.Y. to support Hinchey in his re-election.
But the supporters weren’t the only guests that arrived. Outside of the University on Saturday, someone was dressed like Monica Lewinsky, in an obvious mocking fashion.
Across the road from the gym, artists who were displaying signs in support of the other candidates, as they did at the Cruz rally, were camped out on the corner near the traffic circle.
But this did not affect the energy of the supporters gathered inside. At approximately 7:30 p.m., Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, and then Democratic Chair James Testani welcomed Bill Clinton, who served as the 42nd president of the United States, to the podium.
Clinton, during his address, talked initially of how the voting system doesn’t work the best, and that they need everyone to get out and vote on Tuesday. Then he talked of the things that his wife will accomplish as president.
“If she did as much as she did as a senator,” said the former president, “then just think what she will do as president.”
Hillary Clinton has served as secretary of state, senator from New York, first lady of the United States, first lady of Arkansas, a practicing lawyer and law professor, activist and volunteer.
With Tuesday’s primaries around the corner in New York, all of the Clintons, to include their daughter Chelsea, are campaigning. Chelsea is expected to campaign to a small group at The Lost Dog Café on Sunday.
Current polls show that Hillary Clinton leads Sanders by about 700 delegates, 1,758 to 1,069. A total of 2,383 delegates would secure the party’s nomination.
On the Republican side, Donald Trump is leading Cruz in pledged delegates, 743 to 545. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 143. A total of 1,237 is needed to secure the Republican nomination.
