Clinton rallies supporters in McAllen

McALLEN - Around 2,000 people erupted in cheers as presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took the stage just after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Clinton took the stage to cheers and chants from the thousands who turned out to support their candidate. She talked about bolstering health care, educational and new job programs. She also highlighted plans for immigration reform.

"I'm so excited to be in South Texas," Clinton said. "We must seize the future.

"There is so much more work to be done."

Clinton also went on the attack against Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, who won primaries in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. She said she would create programs that would help bolster struggling housing and job markets.

"I have the solutions to these economic challenges," she said. "The question is, does Senator Obama?"

Clinton emphasized the importance of organizing and building up support locally for her campaign and to vote in the March 4 primary.

"I need you and I need you to start organizing," she said. "We can do what we need to do."

After Clinton's speech, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, announced that Clinton would next appear on Feb. 20 at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg. She will also make a second appearance later that day at McAllen Memorial High School, he said.

During a press conference after the speech, Clinton said the Rio Grande Valley needs its own veteran's hospital. Click here to listen to full audio from the press conference (Windows Media file)

"(Veterans) can't be making that 5-hour trip as often as they need to," she said.

Jose Luis Vasquez of La Joya lingered and held his 3-year-old daughter while the crowd left the hall.

He said he was a Clinton supporter before she came to McAllen today. But actually seeing her in person affirmed why Vasquez, who owns the Coyote Convenience Store in La Joya, thinks Clinton would make a good president.

"When her husband was in the White House, we saw better changes in our lives," said Vasquez, 35. "I think she contributed to that."

Shortly after 9 a.m., the crowd awaited the former first lady to appear.

Dozens of local politicians, dignitaries and other Clinton supporters stood on the stands on the stage while campaign staffers handed out "Hillary for President" signs.

People from all walks of life are sitting, standing and waiting for the former first lady to make her appearance.

Songs such as Dolly Parton's "9 to 5," Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business," and "I'm a Believer" by Smash Mouth played as the crowd periodically chanted "Hill-a-ry! Hill-a-ry!"

Leading the chants around 8:15 a.m. was Mary Cano of Edinburg.

Cano screamed and clapped her hands as she tried to drum up support for her favorite candidate.

"I love her to death," said Cano, a 34-year-old accountant. "She is, like, the strongest woman.

"How can't you love her?"

Another chant with a Valley twist went: "Hil-a-ry, Hill-a-ry! She's our dama! She can beat Barack Obama!"

Gloria Ocampo of Brownsville stood in the back row atop risers directly opposite of the stage.

"I'm short and I won't be able to to see," said Ocampo, 37. "This is probably as close as I'm going to get to see her in my entire life. I'm a big supporter."

Frank Albiar, a veteran of the First Gulf War, stood in the first row of risers that flanked the left side of the stage. Standing decorated with his U.S. Army medals, Albiar said he supports Clinton because he believes she understands the Rio Grande Valley needs a Veterans hospital.

"If they can't do it, we need to hold (Congress) accountable and look for somebody else," Albiar, 50, said.

Yvonne Benavides and some of her fellow teachers at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial High School said they were here first.

As they stood in line amid a chilly, cloudless sunrise today, Benavides said she and her fellow teachers showed up at 5 a.m. for the rally.

"We've been standing the whole time," said Benavides, who teaches 9th and 10th grade Social Studies classes.

The teachers are taking the morning off to check out the rally and garner some ideas for their classes, Benavides said. Students there are working on a project that follows a presidential candidate through the primary process and in the fall, teachers plan on implementing one where students will vote on campus.

But when asked, Benavides couldn't deny her support for Clinton.

"I think it's important for her to speak to the Hispanic community," Benavides said. "I think she understands the important issues."

Some of those issues on Benavides' mind were border security, health care and bringing a Veteran's Administration hospital to the Rio Grande Valley.

Fellow PSJA Memorial teacher Melissa Torres said the group actually got up at 3 a.m. to make it to the McAllen Convention Center before dawn.

"We had to eat breakfast first," she said.

Jacob Ramirez, a veterinary technician from Harlingen, said he showed up at 6 a.m. for the rally.

But why did he show up so early?

"To make sure I was at the head of the line," Ramirez, 25, said.

Ramirez said he's checked out Clinton and Obama, but decided to pick the former first lady.

"Going along, the experience he lack, she has," Ramirez said. "She knows what to do and knows how to take the country and make better choices."

Check back to www.themonitor.com for updates from the Clinton rally throughout the day.