Campaigning in Ohio for his wife, Bill Clinton addressed nearly 400 people Saturday at the United Steelworkers Local 2 building on Kelly Avenue in Akron.
They waited in a line that wrapped around the building to see the former president and hear what he had to say. The audience was made up of middle-class Democrats, young and old, with an average age of 35.
“This is a winner-takes-all race. I’m proud of Hillary and what she stands for, this is a civilized get-out-the-vote event,” said David Westrich, 48, of Canton. “Violence has no place in politics.”
Fred Johnson, 17, of Shaker Heights, said the hour drive was worth it.
“I want to hear Bill Clinton, because anybody who can beat Trump is who I want to support, and I think Hillary Clinton can do it.”
Bill Clinton, who was in Cincinnati on Saturday morning and planned to be in Toledo after his Akron stop, talked about his wife being a change-maker who will “stand her ground to reach common ground.”
He said she has plans to create jobs through small business incentives; to liberate millions of young people from college tuition debt; and to lower prison populations and make sure ex-convicts receive education, training and job placement after their release.
He said his wife is the best candidate to break down racial, social and economic barriers.
Showing love for Bill
Donning a shirt that said, “Bill for First Lady,” Sarah Rubens, 30, of Akron, said Bill Clinton was the reason she majored in political science.
“It’s been a goal of mine since I was 6 years old to meet him,” she said.
“My maternal grandmother remembered when women couldn’t vote and taught us to vote in every election …,” said Judy Cottrell, 70, of Doylestown. “It just makes sense now that there should be a woman president. It’s time.”
She was carrying Hillary Clinton’s book, Hard Choices, hoping to get it signed by Bill Clinton.
“When I turned 18 I got to vote for him two times,” said Chris Johnson, 37, of Akron, who also had a book he wanted signed, My Life by Bill Clinton. He got his wish. After the event, he showed off the inside cover that read: “To Chris, Best Wishes, Bill Clinton, 3-12-16.”
Kevin Kern, 47, of Alliance, brought his two boys.
“The goal is to get them interested in politics early so it’s not an abnormal thing in their life,” Kern said.
The children were prepped for the visit. “He’s Hillary’s husband,” Aidan, 6, said. “He was the president,” Sander, 8, said.
Afterward, the two boys were excited that they got a chance to shake hands with Clinton and Sen. Sherrod Brown.
Support for Hillary
Sporting a Georgetown University College Democrats T-shirt, with “Bill Is My Homeboy” on the front, Tim McQuait, 27, of Akron, graduated from Georgetown in 2008 but never met Clinton, a fellow Georgetown alumnus. McQuait campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2008, but then supported President Barack Obama.
“It all worked out, but now it’s her time,” McQuait said.
His fiancée, Alyssa Auer, 29, of Akron, said, “I love she has so much experience. … I can easily see her being president.”
Married couple Chris Carpenter, 48, and Joshua Sims, 44, of Akron, said Hillary will expand on what is already in place that needs to get done.
The most important issues are selecting a liberal Supreme Court Justice, fixing college education, expanding health care even more and funding Planned Parenthood, Sims said.
“Bill Clinton is one of the best presidents in the last 15 years, he balanced the budget and brought jobs.”
Carpenter said Hillary Clinton brings the most experience and the most knowledge to the table and is the best candidate for the job.
Meeting a president
Anthony Katar, 21, of Detroit, said he was a diehard Bill Clinton supporter and voted for Hillary last week in Michigan. He came to Akron to see Bill.
Bob Klein 58, of Doylestown, a member of United Steelworkers Local 2, said he was aware of Hillary Clinton’s stance on NAFTA and that it has holes and needs to be revisited. His son, Phil Klein, 28, of Wadsworth, a high school government teacher, said he felt compelled to attend the rally.
“How could I tell my students that I missed a chance to meet a former president,” the younger Klein said. “I think the economy is heading in the right direction and it will take Hillary to carry on what President Obama has started.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.