Hillary Clinton expressed her faith in Buffalo's future and took some credit for helping spur the city's economic rebound while serving as a U.S. Senator during a campaign push in downtown Buffalo Friday.
Appearing at the Pierce Arrow Museum, Clinton promoted an agenda that includes student debt relief, tax credits for American-based manufacturing and affordable health care, among other items.
Clinton is the first of many candidates expected in Buffalo prior to New York's April 19 primary. Democratic rival Bernie Sanders will hold a rally at UB's Alumni Arena Monday evening, while Republican Donald Trump is scheduled to appear at First Niagara Center on April 17. Republican Ted Cruz is also said to be planning a Buffalo visit next week, and John Kasich could schedule a local appearance, as well.
Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, stumped for her Monday in Depew.
"The primary on April 19 is a very significant one because it will, in many ways decide what happens in this nominating race. I feel very good about where I am, but I take nothing for granted," Clinton said.
Clinton also took some digs at both Sanders and Trump in her speech, saying she has earned millions more votes than they have. She said she has had an affinity for the Buffalo area since the early aughts, when she began campaigning for U.S. Senate.
"I have just felt a connection to this city and to Western New York and it has been one of the great honors of my life to see the work we've done, the transformation that has taken place since my very trips here back in 2000," Clinton said.
A long line formed outside the Pierce Arrow Museum hours before Clinton's scheduled speech and some never made it inside. Buffalo's Fire Commissioner determined the building was filled to capacity and ordered the doors closed.
After a long list of elected officials took turns praising Clinton, the candidate herself took the stage. She covered topics such as advanced manufacturing, easing student debt, affordable health care, reproductive rights and climate change. On the latter, she took aim at climate change skeptics, criticizing them not just for doubt but also for missed economic opportunity.
"Some nation is going to be the 21st century clean energy superpower," Clinton said. "The way things stand right now, it'll probably be China, Germany or us. I want it to be us."
The former Secretary of State also visited the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus earlier in the day, participating in a roundtable discussion on creating jobs in the city's new economy.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Buffalo is on the rise and Buffalo will have a great future. I was at the medical campus today seeing some amazing things," she said.
Clinton's campaign caravan left Buffalo for Rochester loaded with coffee from Golden Cup on Jefferson and with beef on weck from Charlie the Butcher, near the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Golden Cup owners Larry Stitts and Jacqueline Stover-Stitts had about a half-hour notice the candidate was coming. Clinton ordered the shop's Buffalo Roast coffee.
