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US Presidential Election 2016

Clinton and Trump hit the Keystone State

With only three days to go before voting, Hillary Clinton took her campaign to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spoke at a campaign event at the Great Hall at Heinz Field. Donald Trump was also in the Keystone State addressing an audience in Hershey. Jan van der Made has this report.

Hilary Clinton speaking in the Great Hall at Heinz Field, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Hilary Clinton speaking in the Great Hall at Heinz Field, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. RFI/Jan van der Made
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Clinton was due to begin speaking at 12:45 at the Great Hall at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, home to the Steelers, Pittsburgh’s professional team.

She arrived half an hour late.

Her speech was preceded by architect Andrew Tesoro, who claimed he had not been paid by Donald Trump for work he had completed for him.

Other speakers included Pennsylvania Senate candidate Katie McGinty, who was endorsed by Clinton, and businessman Mark Cuban who both tried to work the crowd with anti-Trump sentiment.

A Clinton supporter at the rally in the Great Hall at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A Clinton supporter at the rally in the Great Hall at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

When Clinton took the stage, she was welcomed by hundreds screaming her name and applauding. She continued in the same vein and electrified the crowd with questions like: “Are you ready to choose our next President and Commander in Chief?”

 

 

She added: “I truly believe you deserve a candidate you can vote for, not just vote against.”

But there was not much people hadn’t already heard before, with the focus largely on Trumps’ attitude towards women, Latino’s and handicapped, and the fact that he wants to lower taxes for the rich and pay for that with tax increases for the poor.

“I want you to know what the agenda is, and I want you to hold me accountable,” Clinton said, adding that Trump had the habit of “pitting people against each other” and “not holding them together.”
She even went so far as to describe him as a “danger to the country.”

“Imagine - he could start a real war, not just a Twitter war.”
But was the crowd convinced? “It is more of the same,” complained Henry, a sturdy man who had come to attend the rally. “They are out of creativity.”

Michael, who works at the University of Pittsburg, said he had come by curiosity, but things the system and not just the candidates should be overhauled.

“In fact we should have a complete overhaul of the system. More like in the days of George Washington, when political parties were not yet playing a major part in politics,” he said.

Others were enthusiastic and vowed to vote for Hillary on Tuesday.

“It was very good,” says Stephen Ruth. “I generally know the things she talks about, and I agree with them. I vote for Hillary Clinton. Sure.”

“It was wonderful,” says Virginie. I’ve been supporting her for years.” But she is pessimistic about the vote on Tuesday. “I think that the worst is going to happen. But I am still hoping. I am scared. Because a lot of things changed in one week, and other things may happen.”

She also fears that many of her friends will not vote as they claim. “Many of them look OK. But if it comes to the point they will vote for Donald Trump. But not me. If it was between Trump and the devil, I’d vote for the devil!”

 

 

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