Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Makes Campaign Stop at Guilford May 2

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) spoke at a “Get out the Vote” rally for her Democratic presidential primary campaign May 2 at Ragan-Brown Field House. The event attracted Guilford students, faculty and staff and others from the greater community.

The former First Lady, speaking four days before the North Carolina primary, told the audience of about 900 that, “We need a big, big vote here in North Carolina. North Carolina hasn't been in this kind of spotlight in helping to pick a Democratic nominee for a long, long time.”

Now locked in a relatively close primary race with Sen. Barack Obama, she added: “When the voting is over on Tuesday night, I know we will have heard from North Carolinians about what you think the next president should do, and I hope that you will give me a chance to work for you.”

Sen. Clinton touched on a number of topics in her 40-minute speech, including U.S. involvement in Iraq, rising gas prices and health care. She drew applause when she commented, “I will also clearly state that, even though we do have the strongest military in the world, force should be used as a last resort, not as a first resort.”

She noted that her daughter, Chelsea, had earned her high school degree from Sidwell Friends, a Quaker-founded school in Washington, D.C. Guilford alumnus Bruce Stewart is head of school at Sidwell.

Sen. Clinton was accompanied at the rally by Gov. Mike Easley, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) and a North Carolina resident who had appeared in television commercials for the campaign. All three made remarks.

Prior to the start of the rally, President Kent Chabotar offered welcoming remarks from the college. Senior political science major Brennan Aberle welcomed Sen. Clinton on behalf of students, CCE SGA President Cephas Williams led the pledge of allegiance and local seventh-grader Aarion Moore sang the National Anthem. Guilford faculty members Suzanne Galer and Kami Rowan performed a musical selection.

The event was covered by local media as well as the campaign’s traveling press corps, with representatives from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and other major outlets.

While the college agreed to allow the Clinton campaign to use the field house for the event, it does not endorse political candidates. A few people protested Clinton’s visit outside the field house.

To view a 360 degree photo of the event click here.

May 2, 2008