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One of the first rules of public speaking is to know your audience. On the campaign trail in Iowa no one does this more consistently or effectively than New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Clinton and her “Middle Class Express” rolled into Cedar Rapids this morning and pitched to a predominately pro-union crowd at Veterans Memorial Coliseum exactly what it wanted to hear.
“I believe the middle class is the backbone of our economy, the key to real growth, and the guarantor of the American dream,” she said. “America is only as strong as our middle class. I judge the health of our economy by asking whether or not our middle class is expanding and getting ahead. This administration has failed the test. Mine will not.”
Al Loukota, who served in World War II and has been affiliated with the Sheet Metal Workers for over 50 years, says he agrees with everything Clinton has to say.
“Whatever I heard today from her is on the right track,” he said following Clinton’s prepared remarks. “I hope for the best for all of us — because we’ve got to have a lot of help. It’s important for people to have a good union job.”
Cedar Rapids residents Wilda Ralston and Betty Clark agreed and said they are ready to caucus for Clinton.
“I like that she says we need to get jobs back in the United States, rather than overseas,” said Ralston while Clark nodded her agreement. “I also liked what she had to say about health care. There was so much of what she said today that I agree with.”
Clark says that Clinton “has just got it all right.”
“I didn’t hear anything I disagreed with,” she said. “I plan to keep volunteering for her.”
When asked if they were ready for caucus night, both women excitedly answered that they were.
“I think if we would have had a woman a long time ago, we probably wouldn’t be in the mess that we’re in,” Ralston said.
Her remarks in Cedar Rapids came one day after a Des Moines Register poll showed her taking the lead among Democratic hopefuls in Iowa. Nearly 30 percent of the 399 Iowans polled gave Clinton their support in the poll. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received 23 percent and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama garnered 22 percent. All of the three front-runners were within the 4.9 percent margin of error.
Clinton didn’t seem overly interested in the Democratic horse race. The other candidates were not a topic of discussion during her remarks. The current White House administration and former Republican-led Congress, however, were fair game.
“If anyone tells you the Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility — just roll your eyes,” she told the audience.
Clinton also chose to quote Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central fame as a part of her attack on the administration.
“This administration doesn’t make decisions based on facts,” she said. “This administration makes facts based on decisions.”
Clinton told the audience in Cedar Rapids that she will be rolling out more detailed plans in relation to the nation’s economy in the coming days.
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