Former President Bill Clinton endorsed local Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) in his re-election bid at a packed rally Monday evening in Downtown Binghamton.
The event, held at the Holiday Inn, was in support of Hinchey’s bid to defeat George Phillips, his Republican challenger for office, in the upcoming November election.
The rally was held in a convention room filled to capacity with more than 800 members of the community and Binghamton University students.
Prior to Hinchey and Clinton’s joint entrance, Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan, a Democrat, addressed the crowd to encourage everyone there to continue the event’s momentum by volunteering for the Hinchey campaign.
In his brief speech, Hinchey focused on the funding, industry and job growth that he helped bring to the region as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
Hinchey represents New York’s 22nd district in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes the city of Binghamton.
‘This election is a choice: we can go back to the way things were or we can continue building on the progress of the last few years and keep fighting to move forward to more growth and security,’ he said, calling to mind to the economic prosperity of the Clinton administration.
Following Hinchey’s remarks, Clinton took the stage to an uproar from the eager audience.
Clinton addressed a variety of topics including his specific proposals for the economy, higher education, Republican and conservative opposition, his achievements as president and his current activities.
The most vital steps for fixing the economy include supporting small businesses, bringing back manufacturing and improving infrastructure and clean energy initiatives, according to Clinton.
‘I spend an hour a day trying to figure out how to fix the economy,’ Clinton said.
Clinton said he believes supporting education and training will help students find jobs while simultaneously stimulating the economy.
‘The most disturbing economic statistic that most people don’t know is that we’ve fallen to 12th in the world in young people with four-year degrees, but we’re still first in the number of people attending college,’ Clinton said.
Clinton pointed to the rising cost of tuition as the reason students are unable to complete their degrees. He also said that students are forced to make career choices that will allow them to more quickly pay off the excessive debts they carry rather than taking jobs in vital but lower-paying public service fields.
Both Hinchey and Clinton stressed the importance of student involvement and voting.
‘The student debt issue alone should be enough to get every student in America to vote in this election,’ Clinton said.
He continuously blamed the conservative movement for attempting to make the midterm elections a referendum on emotions instead of facts. Clinton credited the Obama administration with improving the economy, but argued that voters cannot expect full prosperity to return overnight.
Hecklers attempted to disrupt Clinton’s speech numerous times, but once Clinton gave a sharp retort.
‘There’s only one person that has balanced four budgets in America,’ Clinton said. ‘I don’t need any lectures or shouting, you need to listen to me.’
Prior to the rally, the Phillips campaign released a press statement which characterized Clinton’s visit as an indication that Hinchey’s support among voters was ‘sagging.’
However, at a press conference after the rally, Hinchey refuted the allegation that his campaign had asked Clinton to make an appearance.
‘He has been making some very wacky statements that just aren’t true,’ Hinchey said, referring to Phillips.
Hinchey explained that Clinton has been campaigning for various Democratic candidates across the country and was already making a stop in upstate New York Monday night. Hinchey was contacted and asked if he wanted Clinton to speak on his behalf since he would be in the area.
Clinton received about $8,000 from the Hinchey campaign for speaking at the event Hinchey told the media, but Hinchey said he was honored to share the stage with the former president.
Clinton had already been to Kentucky and West Virginia prior to his stop in Binghamton, which was his 65th this election season. Immediately following the event, Clinton departed to Syracuse for another congressional candidate’s rally.
‘ Brian Racow contributed to this report