21:18

On the one hand, the Hibernia Bank building in San Francisco’s gritty Tenderloin neighborhood was a perfect venue for Hillary Clinton’s Thursday afternoon rally.

It survived the 1906 earthquake, endured decades of vandalism and neglect. Recently renovated, it is beautiful, useful, ready for yet another turn on this graceful city’s architectural stage. A phoenix. That’s right, up from the ashes.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts after being introduced at a rally in San Jose, California. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

On the other hand, maybe it’s not that great of an idea to pump up a few hundred supporters in an 1892 relic with terrible acoustics. The building is old. An historic landmark. Its glowing, stained glass dome and intricate gilt moldings shout … antique, dated, of an earlier era, long, long ago.

Which is an image the former first lady must shake to appeal to the millennials who have flocked to Bernie Sanders’ camp. The1990s nostalgia for her husband’s administration, critics say, must give way to an image and campaign of her very own.

On Thursday, she mixed a yearning for America of a generation ago – “We can just go back 25 years….Everybody prospered together.” – with a dose of anti-Trump fisticuffs.

What happened to that vibrant economy, she asked? “Then came the Republicans with their failed economic policies,” she continued. “Trickle down economics. It didn’t work then. It won’t work now. That’s all Donald Trump is offering.”

Supporters of Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton cheer during a campaign event in San Jose, California. Photograph: Stephen Lam/Reuters

And she finished with a catalogue of promises for the future that brought down the lovely, landmark house, one pledge at a time.

“I will defend a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions,” Clinton cried, and the crowd cheered.

“And I will defend planned parenthood.” Ditto.

“I will defend marriage equality.” See above.

“I will defend voter rights...appoint Supreme Court justices to overturn Citizens United... fight for the right of unions to organize... for comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship... for criminal justice reform.

“And,” she said, rounding out the list, “I will stand up against the gun lobby.”