USA: Emotions run high in New Hampshire a Democratic candidates make their final push for votes

Record ID: 590866

  • Title: USA: Emotions run high in New Hampshire a Democratic candidates make their final push for votes
  • Date: 8th January 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARYANNE PERNOLD SAYING: "She was here for me, for us. Because when you come to these events, I'm sure she's asked the same questions all the time and the same answers. And I think she gave us her soul. She showed us heart and soul." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TONY GRAPPONE SAYING: "I think she's right in the sense that you need to have experience in order to make change happen. Obama seems to give some very inspiring speeches with passion that make you think he has the ability to change, but I feel as though his experience is going to be a barrier to actually getting that change to happen." (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLORIA CABE SAYING: "I loved Obama and the way he spoke, I want that charisma. but I also want someone who has said: look I've gotten people together, I've gone to the table with the Republicans we've been able to get something done."
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAIWB9FGWMK829KRMZYCV7DWUW
  • Story Text: Her front-runner status gone, Democrat Hillary Clinton, wrapped up her campaign for the crucial New Hampshire primary on Monday (January 7) with an emotional talk with a small group of undecided voters.
    "This is very personal for me. It's not just political, it's not just public. I see what's happening. We have to reverse it," a teary-eyed Clinton said, her voice breaking repeatedly.
    A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Monday showed Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, trailing Barack Obama by 10 points in New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday(January 8).
    Clinton again touched on the topic of change, a buzzword of campaigning on both the Republican and Democrat sides leading up to the primary.
    Clinton made an oblique reference to the inexperience of rival Obama.
    "Some of us are ready and some of us are not, some of know what we will do on day one and some of us haven't really though that through enough," she said.
    Obama, a senator from Illinois bidding to make history as the first black U.S. president, has been capitalizing on his surprise win last week in the Iowa caucuses. Clinton, who for months was the front-runner among Democratic candidates, came in third in the Iowa vote behind Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
    Several of the undecided voters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire were touched by the softer side of Clinton.
    "She was here for me, for us. Because when you come to these events, I'm sure she's asked the same questions all the time and the same answers. And I think she gave us her soul. She showed us heart and soul,"
    said one.
    Meanwhile, Obama leads Hilary Clinton in opinion polls in New Hampshire.
    Obama's campaign has stood for change, and he has shown he is not afraid of controversy or sitting on the political fence.
    At a rally MOnday morning, Obama said if elected, he would bring US troops home from Iraq.
    "We can begin the process by ending this war in Iraq. When I am sworn in I will bring our troops home. I will finish the fight with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan which is where we should have been focused. They are the ones that killed 3 thousand Americans. But I don't want to just end the war, I want to change the mind set that got us into war," Obama said.
    Obama skipped the sentiment, and spoke about controversial decisions he would make in the White House, including, health care reform, changes in trade between the United States and foreign countries, and ending dependence from foreign oil.
    Democratic candidate John Edwards keep an upbeat but low profile Monday as he stumped for votes.
    Some 22 states will hold primaries on Feb. 5, and both Democrats and Republicans could decide their presidential nominees by then.
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