Jun.13
Political News, Now.
Roosevelt Island Awakens to a Clinton Crowd
Though the usual early-morning risers were already walking their dogs and stretching their legs as they strolled along the East River, this was not a typical Saturday on Roosevelt Island. At the southern end of the island, the residents found themselves bumping into hundreds of supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton waiting in line hours before she was expected to give the kickoff speech of her 2016 campaign for president here.
“I walk my dog here every day,” said Ping Gu, who has lived on Roosevelt Island for four years. “I didn’t get a ticket and I probably won’t wait in line for three hours to see her, but I do wish I had two tickets because my nephew has lived in China for most of his life and I want him to have exposure.” Ms. Gu said her 14-year-old nephew was staying with her this weekend.
The campaign was handing out tickets to the event to people standing in a line near Four Freedoms Park, which celebrates the famous speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Ms. Gu, a registered Democrat, said she supported Mrs. Clinton and did not mind the crowds on the island for the event. She also said the Clinton volunteers she had encountered were respectful and kind.
“I hope I can get a ticket because I live here,” she said. “It feels weird to wait so long — I live here.”
Another resident, Mohammed Khan, was on his regular walk around the island with his wife, Naher.
Mr. Khan, also a registered Democrat, said they had stumbled onto the Clinton event by chance, asked campaign volunteers what was going on and decided they would continue walking and then come back to wait in line.
“She’s good,” he said of Mrs. Clinton. “We’ll come back.”
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The Chat: Hillary Clinton’s Rally Speech, Instantly Analyzed
Two months after announcing her presidential candidacy by video, Hillary Rodham Clinton held her first campaign rally shortly before noon Saturday on Roosevelt Island in New York City. Over instant messages, two New York Times political correspondents analyzed Mrs. Clinton’s remarks in real time — as they did with Mrs. Clinton’s announcement video and with the campaign announcements of several other 2016 candidates. Here is an edited version of their chat.
Pat: Hi, Maggie! It’s great to be back with you analyzing Hillary Clinton’s campaign rally kickoff.
Maggie: Hello, Patrick!
Pat: And here she is, taking the stage solo – no Bill Clinton, no one else – with big smiles in a blue pantsuit!
She starts off this Roosevelt Island rally by noting there are “absolutely no ceilings” – powerful evocation of her final speech as a 2008 presidential candidate and her “18 million cracks” reference.
And she quickly threads together three Democratic presidents – Roosevelt, Clinton and Obama. She is creating a path here.
Maggie: The model is Democratic policies versus Republican.
But the reason this is interesting to me is that some of her advisers don’t want her to refer too much to the past.
Sent at 11:59 AM on Saturday
Pat: She’s starting to sound like a professor as she criticizes Republicans on taxes and the economy.
Vendor From Brooklyn Finds Clinton T-shirts a Tough Sell
One man from Brooklyn was on Roosevelt Island on Saturday morning selling homemade T-shirts near the only subway stop, taking advantage as Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters walked by on their way to the southern tip of the island, where Mrs. Clinton was planning a rally to kick off her campaign for the presidency.
Subway riders streaming out of the station had to pass the man, Abdon Valdez, who was sitting on a grassy spot and peddling the shirts for $20. So far, he had sold only one.
Mr. Valdez, 30, who said he was a registered Democrat and a Clinton supporter, remained optimistic. “I’m hoping to sell more,” he said. “I think I’ll just stay here a while.”
The shirts — decorated with cartoon busts in varying colors of Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton — all said the same thing: “2 for 1: 2016.” Mr. Valdez said he was selling the shirts on behalf of a friend, a doctor who lived in Florida and was also a Clinton supporter. His friend had designed the shirts and shipped them to New York ahead of Saturday’s rally.
Mr. Valdez, who said he worked at a law firm and was a musician, gets to keep $5 for every shirt he sells.
As he spoke, one passer-by said, “Thank God! You’re selling Hillary shirts!” before moving along after realizing that Mr. Valdez, who had the shirts displayed on top of a white bath towel, did not accept credit cards.
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