In Indy, Hillary Clinton vows to bring ‘manufacturing renaissance’
by admin on April 30, 2016
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on Sunday. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton said she wants to be a president that “brings manufacturing back” to the country and pledged to examine any possible barrier standing in the way of that goal.
In an interview with IndyStar on Sunday after speaking to hundreds of supporters on Indianapolis’ eastside, Clinton acknowledged that the Democratic race is close in the state.
“I really would very much like to do well here in Indiana because I feel like I’ve got the best plans and the best understanding about how to implement those plans to make sure that we do have a manufacturing renaissance,” Clinton said.
“We have to enforce all the international rules, including those in trade agreements,” Clinton said. “We’ve got to change the tax code so that we incentivize more investments in our country — put people to work. We need to make sure we got people ready and skilled to do that work.”
At her first public rally in Indiana, Clinton told those gathered that the stakes in the 2016 presidential election are high. She said there is “no more consequential election” facing the country. She promised to work against what she called the divisive rhetoric of GOP front-runner Donald Trump and to strengthen the middle class.
Clinton said three big tests face the next president – producing positive results, keeping the country safe and uniting the country.
“I am ready to meet those tasks,” Clinton said to applause by the crowd.
For Clinton, a good showing in Indiana would allow her to widen the delegate lead she enjoys over Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders – building on her status as the favorite to win the party’s nomination.
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members cheer as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. The Democratic presidential candidate visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves to crowd members before speaking at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members meet and get photos with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after show spoke at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Kristin Slevin hands a couple of Hillary Clinton yard signs through the car window of Joe McCulough before a Clinton rally at the Douglass Park Gymnasium on May 1, 2016. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughs on stage as she is introduced by Rep. Andre Carson at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members watch as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members wait in line to listen to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speak at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughs on stage as she is introduced by Rep. Andre Carson at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members meet and get photos with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after show spoke at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh speaks on stage before former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a speech to campaign supporters at the Douglass Park Gymnasium on May 1, 2016. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members meet and get photos with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after show spoke at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members wait in line to listen to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speak at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly talks with Hillary Clinton supporters before a Clinton rally at the Douglass Park Gymnasium on May 1, 2016. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughs on stage as she is introduced by Rep. Andre Carson at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly speaks on stage before former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a speech to campaign supporters at the Douglass Park Gymnasium on May 1, 2016. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members watch as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Crowd members wait in line to listen to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speak at the Douglass Park Gymnasium during a campaign stop on May 1, 2016. Former Secretary of State Clinton visited the Lincoln Square Pancake House before the rally to speak with diners. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Before starting her rally at Douglass Park Gymnasium on Sunday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop at Lincoln Square Pancake House to speak with diners. Joined by Rep. Andre Carson, Clinton sat and chatted with residents about community engagement and other issues. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
But polls show the race in Indiana is tight, with Sanders hitting on the belief that free trade agreements have hurt the state’s heavy manufacturing base. A new poll released Sunday showed Clinton with a narrow four-point lead over Sanders, similar to what other polls have shown. The poll by NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist had Clinton leading 50 percent to 46 percent — within its margin of error.
Clinton said she loves the economic diversity in Indiana, with its manufacturing and agriculture roots, and recalled to IndyStar the time she spent living in Indianapolis in 1976 when she worked for the Jimmy Carter campaign.
“Indiana has so much potential for the future and I want it to be part of the kind of positive, confident future I’m offering in this election,” Clinton said.
But she also had harsh words for Gov. Mike Pence and the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly that this session enacted stricter abortion restrictions. She’s also decried the state’s passage of a right-to-work law.
“I worry very much, and I don’t mean this to be partisan or political, but if you look at what built the American middle class, it really had a lot to do with the rise of the American labor movement,” Clinton said. “So all the efforts you are seeing in Republican-dominated states to erode (and) undercut unions, I think makes it harder for us to raise middle-class wages, to raise the opportunity for people to go further, to really rebuild the middle class.”
She said decisions based on ideology, and not economic considerations, are counterproductive.
“When people make decisions based on ideology,” Clinton said, “they often make the wrong decision, and I feel the same way about these restrictive provisions that have been passed about women.”
Clinton’s current delegate count, including unpledged super delegates, is at 2,165 and Sanders is at 1,357, according to the Associated Press. A candidate needs 2,383 delegate votes to win the Democratic nomination. In Indiana, 92 delegates are at stake.
Last week, Clinton toured Munster Steel in Hammond and the AM General Plant in Mishawaka where she spoke to factory workers about her desire to grow manufacturing jobs in the state. Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, also has come to Indiana to campaign on her behalf.
IndyStar reporter Brian Eason contributed to this story.
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