Former first lady's daughter makes last plea for votes
Just one day before the Indiana Primary, Clay County residents received a special treat as former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton visited the city.
Clinton was in Brazil Monday stumping for her mother, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who is one of two Democratic presidential candidates on the ballot today, the other being Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Clay County Democratic Chairperson Joe Broyles introduced both Clinton and Miss Indiana, Brittany Mason, who opened the event.
"She's the one I've personally admired since I was a little girl," Mason said of Hillary Clinton. "I think it's time Indiana makes its voice heard."
Chelsea Clinton then took the microphone.
"I hope you all get out (Tuesday)," she said. "And I'm here to answer any questions."
Clinton began Monday talking to a large audience regarding public education reform. She then started taking questions from the audience and encouraged them to visit her mother's website.
One person in the audience asked her why she believed her mother would make a better president than her father.
"Well, hopefully that means you thought my dad (President Bill Clinton) was a good one and I agree," Clinton said, adding she believed her mother was better prepared for the job.
Clinton then began discussing her mother's healthcare proposals, saying she believed her mother had learned quite a bit since proposing universal healthcare during Bill Clinton's presidency.
"It's more politically achievable," Chelsea said of her mother's current proposals. "It really matters to me that my mom is still fighting for universal healthcare."
One audience member asked Clinton what her mother planned to do regarding the escalating gas prices.
Chelsea said her mother believed a short-term goal would be to implement a gas tax holiday. However, she said her mother had long-term goals regarding dropping the country's dependence on foreign oil.
"This is important for our pocket books and our security," she said. "But we need emergency relief now."
Another audience member told Clinton she believed her mother would be the "greatest president of all-time."
"Tell your dad and mom, he was great, but she'll be the greatest," the resident said as Clinton agreed.
Clinton also described her mother's proposal for keeping manufacturing jobs here in the Indiana and the country.
"We have to make it more affordable for our manufacturers to stay here," she said.
She said her mother would also tackle border security if elected president.
"We don't know who or what is coming into our country," she said. "We need a president who understands absolutely that we need to do something about immigration."
Clinton was also asked about her mother's proposal to end the War in Iraq. Recently, Sen. Clinton has said she would begin pulling troops out of Iraq 60 days into her administration if she were elected.
On Monday, Chelsea said her mother's military advisors believe that is possible.
"My mom has said she would end the war yesterday if she could," Chelsea said. "We must take care of them."
After taking the final question, Clinton urged the crowd to get out and vote Tuesday.
"I hope you all vote for my mom," she said.