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Clinton defends progressive record as campaigns hit Independence Day Clinton defends progressive record as campaigns hit Independence Day
(35 minutes later)
Related: 'Grassroots movement working': Bernie Sanders gains on the Clinton machineRelated: 'Grassroots movement working': Bernie Sanders gains on the Clinton machine
As 2016 presidential candidates flocked to spend Independence Day in early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton found herself defending her record on policy and the size of crowds at her events.As 2016 presidential candidates flocked to spend Independence Day in early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton found herself defending her record on policy and the size of crowds at her events.
“I take a backseat to no one when you look at my record in standing up and fighting for progressive values,” Clinton told an audience in Hanover, New Hampshire, on Friday.“I take a backseat to no one when you look at my record in standing up and fighting for progressive values,” Clinton told an audience in Hanover, New Hampshire, on Friday.
Clinton has come under greater-than-expected pressure from the independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist running a determinedly grassroots-focused campaign who nonetheless attracted nearly 10,000 people to a rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday. On Friday night, a Sanders event in Council Buffs, Iowa, was standing-room only.Clinton has come under greater-than-expected pressure from the independent Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist running a determinedly grassroots-focused campaign who nonetheless attracted nearly 10,000 people to a rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday. On Friday night, a Sanders event in Council Buffs, Iowa, was standing-room only.
Later on Friday, while visiting the Dairy Twirl ice cream shop in Lebanon, Clinton was asked why she was not drawing such big crowds.Later on Friday, while visiting the Dairy Twirl ice cream shop in Lebanon, Clinton was asked why she was not drawing such big crowds.
“Well, we each run our own campaigns and I always knew this was gonna be competitive,” she said. “And I want to have a great debate in the primary and caucuses around the country and that’s what I’m looking forward to.“Well, we each run our own campaigns and I always knew this was gonna be competitive,” she said. “And I want to have a great debate in the primary and caucuses around the country and that’s what I’m looking forward to.
“I love coming to New Hampshire, and I love going to every part of the state, and I’m happy to be here in the upper valley,” she added about her time in the state whose motto is “Live free or die”.“I love coming to New Hampshire, and I love going to every part of the state, and I’m happy to be here in the upper valley,” she added about her time in the state whose motto is “Live free or die”.
Clinton also said getting defeated by Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary taught her the importance of organizing every single day.Clinton also said getting defeated by Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary taught her the importance of organizing every single day.
“That’s why I’m doing a lot of meetings and discussions about specific issues,” she said, “because I want to hear from people and I also want to connect them to the campaign.“That’s why I’m doing a lot of meetings and discussions about specific issues,” she said, “because I want to hear from people and I also want to connect them to the campaign.
“And I feel like it’s really working. It is building a campaign here in New Hampshire, using the grassroots, and coming up from that, because at the end of the day, I think that wins elections and wins caucuses.”“And I feel like it’s really working. It is building a campaign here in New Hampshire, using the grassroots, and coming up from that, because at the end of the day, I think that wins elections and wins caucuses.”
On the morning of 4 July, the former senator and secretary of state attended a grassroots organizing event in Glen.On the morning of 4 July, the former senator and secretary of state attended a grassroots organizing event in Glen.
In the afternoon, Clinton was set to march in the Gorham Fourth of July parade. Former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, another candidate for the Democratic nomination, was also campaigning in the state, planning to visit Merrimack and Amherst.In the afternoon, Clinton was set to march in the Gorham Fourth of July parade. Former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, another candidate for the Democratic nomination, was also campaigning in the state, planning to visit Merrimack and Amherst.
Sanders and the former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley were both in Iowa for the day. Sanders was due to march in parades in Creston and Waukee.Sanders and the former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley were both in Iowa for the day. Sanders was due to march in parades in Creston and Waukee.
Sanders has been gaining on Clinton. On Thursday, a Quinnipiac University poll found Clinton at 52% in Iowa while Sanders had climbed to 33%. On 7 May, Clinton led the same poll by 60% to 15%. The latest CNN poll shows Clinton only eight points ahead of Sanders in New Hampshire, although national surveys remain more clearly in Clinton’s favor.Sanders has been gaining on Clinton. On Thursday, a Quinnipiac University poll found Clinton at 52% in Iowa while Sanders had climbed to 33%. On 7 May, Clinton led the same poll by 60% to 15%. The latest CNN poll shows Clinton only eight points ahead of Sanders in New Hampshire, although national surveys remain more clearly in Clinton’s favor.
Always fun to run into classmates @phillipsacademy on the campaign trail -L Happy Fourth of July #chafee2016 pic.twitter.com/OfU3PaoVuoAlways fun to run into classmates @phillipsacademy on the campaign trail -L Happy Fourth of July #chafee2016 pic.twitter.com/OfU3PaoVuo
Related: Bernie Sanders sees poll surge after series of record-breaking appearancesRelated: Bernie Sanders sees poll surge after series of record-breaking appearances
Republican presidential candidates also opted to celebrate Independence Day in the early voting states.Republican presidential candidates also opted to celebrate Independence Day in the early voting states.
After a sleepover at 2012 candidate Mitt Romney’s vacation home in New Hampshire, New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Florida senator Marco Rubio were to march in Wolfeboro’s parade.After a sleepover at 2012 candidate Mitt Romney’s vacation home in New Hampshire, New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Florida senator Marco Rubio were to march in Wolfeboro’s parade.
The former Texas governor Rick Perry, former Florida governor Jeb Bush and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham were due to join Chafee in Amherst. The former Texas governor Rick Perry, former Florida governor Jeb Bush and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham joined Chafee for a parade in Amherst.
Bush and Chafee have old school ties in common. They duly met up in Amherst, the Democratic candidate using Twitter to say: “Always fun to run into classmates @phillipsacademy on the campaign trail.” Bush and Chafee have old school ties in common. They duly met up, the Democratic candidate using Twitter to say: “Always fun to run into classmates @phillipsacademy on the campaign trail.”
Bush, who was marching with his son George P Bush, the recently elected Texas land commissioner, was chided by a voter who told him he was holding up the parade.
“There’s nothing behind us – other than Hillary,” Bush said. A team of Clinton supporters were marching right behind a group backing the former Florida governor, their blue signs in sharp contrast with his red.