Clinton Speaks of Faith in Face of Adversity
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
10 minutes ago
HORMIGUEROS, Puerto Rico - Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday offered a spiritual defense for continuing her presidential campaign despite the long odds of overtaking rival Barack Obama.
Speaking to a full congregation at the Pabellon de la Victoria evangelical church, Clinton spoke in measured terms about faith in the face of adversity.
"There isn't anything we cannot do together if we seek God's blessing and if we stay committed and are not deterred by the setbacks that often fall in every life," Clinton said.
Clinton is campaigning for Puerto Rico's primary on June 1, which offers 55 pledged delegates to the national Democratic convention. The New York senator is expected to win the contest, thanks partly to her ties to the large Puerto Rican community in her home state.
Clinton spoke of her determination to stay in the race despite trailing Illinois Sen. Obama by nearly 200 delegates, with 2,026 needed to win the party's nomination. Obama was about 50 delegates short of the number needed to clinch — and Clinton says she will keep going until one of them does.
"If I had listened to those who had been talking over the last several months we would not be having this campaign in Puerto Rico today," she said, alluding to calls during the past few months for her to drop out of the race.
"But I believe this is an opportunity unlike any in recent history for the needs and interests and diversity of the people of Puerto Rico to be in the spotlight. This is an opportunity to educate everyone about this wonderful place," Clinton said.
Clinton took the stage after more than an hour of joyful noise — religious singing and dancing, led by an eight-piece band and 16-person chorus. Women and girls in bright red, blue and white dresses danced in front of Clinton, shaking tambourines as parishioners clapped and waved their hands.
"I believe in all my heart that what is happening in this church today is part of God's purpose and part of the community of believers that can in ways large and small transform lives," she said.
Then it was off to a beach in Boqueron on the southwest coast, where Clinton was mobbed by vacationers, some still dripping wet from swimming, and treated to a traditional dance by girls in bright, multicolored tiered skirts.
"We haven't been excited about a presidential campaign until this one. We love her," said Eileen Baez, a local school principal.
Clinton was spending the Memorial Day weekend campaigning in Puerto Rico, and may return again before the primary. Obama also campaigned in Puerto Rico on Saturday. He returned to the mainland to give a commencement address Sunday at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.
Obama urged the graduates to "make us believe again" by dedicating themselves to public service.
"We may disagree as Americans on certain issues and positions, but I believe we can be unified in service to a greater good. I intend to make it a cause of my presidency, and I believe with all my heart that this generation is ready and eager and up to the challenge," he said.
The Illinois senator filled in for Edward M. Kennedy, the longtime Massachusetts senator who had planned to deliver the graduation address to a class that includes his stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin. He backed out after being diagnosed last week with a cancerous brain tumor.
Kennedy has endorsed Obama, who peppered the speech with references to the Kennedy legacy, including John F. Kennedy urging Americans to ask what they can do for their country, the Peace Corps and Robert Kennedy, to whom Obama has been compared.
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Serious-#####-ly? Hillary is gonna stoop to this level for desperate approval? She's no ##### holy-roller, and you can smell the funk all over this publicity ploy.
Hillary has LIED, and been caught in those LIES, time and time again throughout this shitacular party battle. She was a driving force behind her husband to enact the NFTA free trade agreement and cost Americans thousands of jobs. In the NY Senate, she stupidly followed the advancement of a state bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses without proper LEGAL documentation. Hillary is a heartless calculating bitch that is not VERY GOOD at decieving the public with her lies and disregard for the american people over the american dollar.
Which ... could be said for all politicans
... but when a bitch politican wants to come out and use the religious card to sway needed votes, they deserve a vicious ##### spanking. She's very foolish to hold on to this campaign. She will not beat Obama in delegate votes. Obama has over twice the money and national infuence that Clinton has at this point. She is beating a ##### dead horse and wasting people's money on a childish wish that will not come true.
God is not gonna win this ##### for her --- it's sad that he's her only hope now.
#####, I say we put an admendment on the ballot to grant Hogwarts statehood! Dumble-#####-Dore for ##### president!