As if she were trying to debunk the rumor that she’s quitting on Ohio, Hillary Clinton made a stop at the Ohio State University campus on Monday to reign in her undecided young voters and clarify her stances on a multitude of issues before voter registration ends today.
State and local party leaders kicked off the event, which aimed at registering any stragglers and recruiting callers and door-to-door volunteers. The goal is historic Democratic turnout, and Clinton directed her call to vote specifically to people of color and Millennials.
“We particularly want young people to vote because this is your election more than anybody else’s,” she said to a crowd of hundreds on the campus’ South Oval. “When I think about the challenges that we’re facing, I don’t think any one person has all the answers. I think we all need to listen to each other and respect each other and celebrate our diversity.”
This sentiment is in stark contrast with the Trump campaign’s platform, which advocates for a religious test for immigrants to the United States traveling from “terror states.” As fact-checked by Politifact, the test would be unique to the U.S., as no other country in the world imposes anything like it.
Clinton related his exclusion of people based on religion to the recent tape that surfaced, where Trump bragged about getting away with sexually assaulting women because of his celebrity status, and to Trump’s other verbal missteps.
“We have seen this kind of behavior throughout this campaign,” she said. “He’s insulted, demeaned women, but he has targeted others as well. He’s disrespected and denigrated African Americans and Latinos, Muslims and POWs, people with disabilities and immigrants.”
“He’s an equal opportunity insulter if there ever was one.”
Much of Clinton’s speech brought in ideas and ideals suggested by her progressive colleagues, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Echoing these leaders in hopes of being “stronger together,” Clinton addressed income inequality, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
To the sounds of “boos” and cheers, Clinton outlined the differences between her and her opponent. When it came to income inequality, she made the eager vow to never raise taxes on the middle class and to create a tuition-free or debt-free college payment system, decided based on income. She missed no opportunity to get a dig in on Trump, who finally admitted at Sunday night’s debate that he’s avoided paying federal income tax for years.
Clinton’s populist speech covered the gender pay gap, raising the minimum wage and investing in new, high-paying jobs. To pay for it, “I’m gonna go where there money is,” she said.
Covering a lot of ground in the 40 minutes she spoke, Clinton hoped to win over on-the-fence voters and independents by showing the adaptations her party’s platform has made since Sanders’ failed run for the Democratic nomination. Clinton is currently leading by one point in Ohio, 46-45.