Amanda Fries, and Geoffrey Wilson

Poughkeepsie Journal

Speaking in the Town of Poughkeepsie today, Chelsea Clinton praised her mother and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, slammed her opponents and discussed health care, gun control and abortion rights.

Speaking a few hours before Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was scheduled to hold a rally at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in the City of Poughkeepsie, Chelsea Clinton addressed about 100 people who packed the Civil Service Employee union's office.

Hillary Clinton is a former secretary of state, U.S. senator and first lady.

Chelsea Clinton was greeted by a standing ovation at the "get out the vote" event and took questions from those in the room. She is scheduled to appear at a similar event at the Senate Garage in Kingston at 2 p.m.

Chelsea Clinton's stop in Poughkeepsie marks a return to Dutchess County for her. She married her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, locally in Rhinebeck. They wed at Astor Courts, an estate on River Road, on July 31, 2010.

Chelsea Clinton told those at today's event that her mother is the only candidate who can continue President Barack Obama’s efforts at expanding health care, with the Affordable Care Act.

Clinton also took a shot at her mother’s opponent for the Democratic nomination, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who spoke in at Marist College in the Town of Poughkeepsie Tuesday.

Chelsea Clinton said that, unlike Sanders, her mother keeps her focus on the bigger picture. And touching on an issue that has sharpened the contrast between Hillary Clinton and Sanders, Chelsea Clinton said her mother was the only candidate with a strong record on gun control.

Citing Sanders and Trump, Clinton said a common issue is misunderstanding how the presidency works.

Shifting her focus away from Sanders, solely toward the Republican Party, Chelsea Clinton discussed abortion rights.

"A woman's right to chose is at the core of our human rights and what should be equity in our country," she said.

The upcoming presidential election, Clinton said, is the "most important" in her lifetime.

During a lighter moment that sparked laughter, Clinton was asked by a supporter if she would live close to the White House if her mother is elected president, so Hillary Clinton can see her grandchild.

Connie McLaughlin, of Poughkeepsie, said the Clinton event is a welcome contrast to the Trump rally. Nicholas Dedring, of Beacon, came to volunteer for the Clinton campaign and said his biggest concern is division in the Democratic Party.

The Democratic presidential primary in New York is Tuesday. Polls are open in Dutchess County from noon to 9 p.m.

Chelsea's father, former President Bill Clinton, rallied for his wife in Binghamton on Saturday.

The CSEA building in the Town of Poughkeepsie was chosen for the Sunday event because it's currently being used as a location for other Hillary Clinton campaign events, said Meredith Thatcher, a Hillary Clinton campaign press contact for central and upstate New York.

For the Trump rally, the city has posted several road closures. But Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Todd Tancredi said there were no road closures due to the Chelsea Clinton event.

READ MORE: 'Trump Train' to visit Poughkeepsie Sunday

Thatcher said they’ve made a push to get Chelsea Clinton out into smaller communities to connect with residents and mobilize voters.

“It’s all about building enthusiasm and getting people excited to get out to vote,” she said. “These two (Poughkeepsie and Kingston events), they’re close together, but each, we think of as separate communities.”

Hillary Clinton now leads fellow Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders in New York’s primary polls by 17 points, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll released Friday. Sanders held a rally Tuesday at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

READ MORE: Bernie Sanders storms Poughkeepsie

She holds 57 percent of the state’s Democratic primary voters in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination, compared to Sanders’ 40 percent, according to the poll. Clinton runs a large margin among Democratic primary voters 45 years of age or older, while Sanders retains his lead among first-time voters, voters under the age of 45, and likely Democratic primary voters who describe themselves as very liberal.

Campaigns look to millennials, women on Primary Day and beyond

Amanda Fries: afries@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4824; Twitter: @mandy_fries; Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW