Manchester, N.H. – The entire Clinton clan mounted a last-ditch plea for votes at a rally in Manchester on Monday, less than 24 hours before New Hampshire Democrats seem poised to deliver the Granite State to Bernie Sanders.
Chelsea, Bill, and Hillary Clinton spoke one after the other during a rally at Manchester Community College, trying to blunt Sanders’s persistent double-digit lead in the state, especially among young voters.
But Hillary and Bill took different tacks in their attempt to convince Sanders’s youthful supporters to turn away from the Vermont senator and self-described socialist. The candidate herself played good cop, thanking the young people supporting her opponent and for “understanding the importance of getting involved.”
“And I will say this to them,” Clinton continued. “You may not support me now, but I will always support you, and I will always fight to get results for you.”
Bill Clinton played bad cop, scolding Sanders supporters for what he portrayed as mindless opposition to the powers-that-be. “It bothers me to be in an election where debate is impossible, because if you disagree you’re just part of the establishment,” he said.
“We can’t get in a place where we’re so mad, we demonize everyone against us,” the former president later said, clearly frustrated. “Where we portray everyone on the other side from us, including Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign, as part of some mythical establishment.”
Clinton’s supporters know they’re back on their heels in New Hampshire, but are putting on a brave face and praying for a last-minute turnaround. “People counted out the Denver Broncos last night, didn’t they?” said Chris Pappas, a member of New Hampshire executive council who spoke at the rally. “But they had something else in store.”
– Brendan Bordelon is a political reporter with National Review






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