|
Clinton rallied broward florida 2004 { February 22 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pcdems22feb22,0,7283996.storyhttp://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pcdems22feb22,0,7283996.story
Clinton boosts Broward Democrats
By Nicole T. Lesson
Staff Writer
February 22, 2004
Weston · New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton rallied Broward County Democrats on Saturday night, headlining the local party's major annual fund-raiser and, according to organizers, helping raise a record sum of more than $100,000.
Addressing the more than 1,000 people who paid $125 a plate to attend the sold-out Jefferson Jackson Dinner, the former first lady predicted a Democrat will be elected president in 2004 and recalled the close race the Democrats lost in 2000.
"Next time we open the polls in November, we're going to show the world that Florida will not be deprived again of having the right to have every vote counted," she said. "In the upcoming election in November, there is no place in America where the eyes of the world will be fixed more than right here in South Florida."
During her roughly 25-minute speech at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa, Clinton talked of her concern about the rush to computer voting machines and the lack of a paper ballot.
"It won't be worrying about hanging chads, it will be worrying about whether or not we were given a straight count," she said.
Clinton criticized the Bush administration for its handling of the economy, stewardship of the environment and overseeing of health care and education.
"We are going to have to clean up after them when we get back into the White House," she said.
Mitch Ceasar, head of the Broward Democratic Party, said Clinton was the key to the Broward chapter raising more money at a single event than ever before and attracting more than 100 elected officials from throughout the state to attend. Ceasar said the money raised Saturday would be used for Broward's get-out-the vote efforts.
"Hillary was a big draw; she is so inspiring," said Deborah Wilk of Pembroke Pines, who has never attended the annual dinner. "I thought it was important to come and be a supporter ... Change is drastically needed."
Last year's dinner featured little-known U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and raised only $50,000.
Following her address, Clinton, one of the Democratic Party's biggest fund-raisers, rushed to Miami to speak at the Second Annual Miami-Dade County Democratic Gala, which was expected to bring in about $100,000.
The senator's swing through South Florida should also add to the war chest for her expected re-election campaign in 2006. A pair of appearances in Miami today are expected to raise about $150,000.
Clinton is slated to speak this evening at the Office Depot Success Strategies for Businesswomen conference at the Boca Raton Resort and Club.
Next Saturday, it's the Broward Republican Party's turn to raise money with its major fund-raiser, the Lincoln Day dinner. Former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot of Montana will be the event's keynote speaker. Racicot is the chairman of the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. In 2000, he was among national politicians watching the recount of Broward ballots.
Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this report.
Copyright © 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
|
|
