Tony Leys

tleys@dmreg.com

SIOUX CITY, Ia. — Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Iowans should caucus for her because she has offers more specific, complete plans than her main Democratic rival, Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Clinton, who leads Sanders in Iowa and national presidential polls, called him “a friend of mine.” But she responded Tuesday to a young man who asked her to explain how she’s different from Sanders, whose populist message has been a hit with young liberals.

“I think I have a broader, more comprehensive set of policies about everything, including taking on Wall Street,” she replied.

“You know, I think Bernie’s giving a speech today in New York about what he wants to do to shut down the big banks. Everybody who’s looked at my proposals says my proposals are tougher, more effective, more comprehensive. Because, yeah, I take on the banks, but remember, part of what caused the mess we had in ’07-’08 were not the big banks. It was Lehman Brothers. It was Bear Stearns. It was AIG, the giant insurance company. I want to go after everybody who poses a risk to our financial system,” Clinton said to applause from the more than 500 people crowded into the lobby of Sioux City’s historic Orpheum Theater.

She said she also has more specific plans than Sanders in other areas, “whether it’s in education, health care, in these problems that keep people up at night. I have a long record, and I have been on the forefront of change for decades. I’m a progressive who likes to get things done, and I will get into the White House, I won’t need a tour. I know right where the Oval Office is.”

Clinton routinely spends much of her time during campaign appearances ripping into Republican candidates, especially Donald Trump. But she rarely talks much about her Democratic rivals, Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

The voter who asked the question said he wanted to tell his liberal friends why they should choose Clinton over Sanders.

Undecided Democratic voter Mike Goodwin watched Clinton’s exchange with the young man from the theater’s balcony. Goodwin said he likes all three Democratic candidates, but he was glad someone coaxed Clinton into discussing their differences.

Goodwin, 71, is a retired human-resources employee for MidAmerican Energy. He called Clinton’s claim of having more detailed plans “a fair point.” He said he liked her overall presentation Tuesday, which included stances on a long list of issues, from the economy to civil rights, the environment and health care. “I heard a pragmatic message. ‘If you elect me president, I want to get things done.'”

Goodwin plans to hear Sanders later this month, and he’s still considering caucusing for the Vermont senator. He likes Sanders’ message but is concerned about how Sanders would turn his words into solid accomplishments. “That’s one concern I have had with Sanders. What will he do to get things passed by a Republican House?” Goodwin said.

Sanders spokeswoman Rania Batrice responded to Clinton's contentions in an email to the Register Tuesday night: "Senator Sanders' record on growing the middle class, ending the rigged economy held in place by a corrupt political system, and taking on Wall Street is the most authentic and consistent of anyone in recent history," she wrote. "There's no cure-all answer, but there's also no question where Senator Sanders stands when it comes to Wall Street versus Main Street."

Later Tuesday, Clinton spoke for a half hour to more than 600 people gathered at Iowa Western Community College. She drew repeated applause, including several standing ovations, for an emphatic recitation of her stances and contentions that she would be the most electable Democrat.

Clinton spent several minutes talking about the need for “common sense” gun regulations. She praised President Barack Obama for announcing Tuesday that he would use his executive power to try to rein in unregulated sales of guns. “We lose 90 people a day to gun violence. Homicides. Suicides. Terrible, tragic, avoidable accidents,” she said. “We can do better. And we can do it in a constitutional way. We can respect the rights of gun owners.”

Clinton reiterated that most Americans, including gun owners, say they support measures such as uniform background checks for people who want to buy guns. “We have to get ahold of this. Because it’s so hard — as I have met people who have been the victims of gun violence, for so many years — to really understand why we let this keep happening.”

AT THE EVENT

SETTING: The ornate lobby of Sioux City’s historic Orpheum Theater.

CROWD: Estimated by the campaign at more than 500.

REACTION: The audience applauded at several points, including when Clinton emphatically vowed to fight for civil rights, such as gay rights and voting rights. They asked several questions, including about the fairness of the justice system, whether industrial hemp should be legal and how she would ensure corporations pay their fair share of taxes. “I do not think corporations are people,” she replied to the last one, drawing cheers.

OTHER STOPS: Clinton spoke earlier Tuesday in Osage and appeared before more than 600 people at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs Tuesday evening.

WHAT'S NEXT: Clinton is expected back in Iowa early next week. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is to make stops on her behalf Thursday in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque.