Tony Leys

tleys@dmreg.com

DAVENPORT, Ia. – Hillary Clinton stood before hundreds of union workers here Saturday to denounce efforts to bust public and private unions.

“As your president, I will have your back,” the Democratic candidate pledged. “…You are going to be part of my administration. You’re not going to be out there looking in. You’re going to be inside helping me fight for you.”

In a forceful, 20-minute address, Clinton noted she has been endorsed by 24 unions, including many of the nation’s largest ones. She said she’s particularly concerned about efforts to weaken public employee unions, and she predicted private unions would be the next targets.

Clinton portrayed herself as the champion of working people, repeating her claim that she is the only candidate of either party pledging not to raise any taxes on the middle class. “We’re going to go where the money is. And the money is with the wealthy, who’ve done very well for themselves in the last few years,” she said to cheers. She added that she would use some of that money for infrastructure projects, such as roads, which would bring good-paying jobs.

Clinton is locked in a tight battle with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whose populist message resonates with many young liberals. She has the support of many traditional Democratic voters, including many union leaders. They are helping her campaign with volunteers to call voters and knock on doors.

Danny Homan, Iowa president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, helped warm up the crowd before Clinton took the stage at the historic Danceland Ballroom.

Homan alluded to Sanders when he said Clinton offered achievable plans. “She’s a realist. She can’t come in and promise you everything under the sun,” he told the crowd of about 400, which included a mix of locals and out-of-state union members who had come to Iowa to help with the campaign. “We need to go out and work our (tails) off for the next nine days!” he said.

Earlier Saturday, Clinton appeared in the town of Clinton, where she pitched herself as the Democrats’ best choice to defeat Republicans next fall.

She took several questions in the town-hall event before about 450 voters. One of the most unusual was from a woman who said she’d heard on Fox News that Clinton might not be healthy enough to serve as president.

The question drew derisive laughter from the Democratic crowd, because Fox News tends to be a favorite of conservatives.

Clinton, 68, assured the crowd that she’s healthy. “I’ll match my endurance against anybody’s,” the Democratic presidential candidate declared to roars of applause at the Clinton elementary school.

Clinton discounted the Fox report. “You know, they say nearly anything about me,” she said, bringing more laughter.

She said her doctor released a letter last spring showing she’s in good health.

Clinton was making a return trip to the city of Clinton. She noted that the town and surrounding county are named for DeWitt Clinton, a former New York governor and senator who spearheaded the Erie Canal project. “He was a leader who set big goals,” Clinton said, adding that she plans to be the same kind of leader.

By coincidence, Sanders was scheduled to make a stop at the Masonic Temple in Clinton later in the afternoon. Before starting to take questions at the end of her speech, Clinton alluded to that scheduling complication. “If people have other places they need to go, don’t worry about that,” she said. A few people did get up, though several others said they figured they had time to attend both events in full.

Voter Tom Monahan and his wife, Kathy, said they might also go to the Sanders event, but they’re probably going to caucus for Clinton. Tom Monahan, 64, said Clinton is a stronger candidate than she was in 2008, when she came in third in the Iowa caucuses. He said she provides broad experience and realistic plans. “She’s like a fine wine, she just keeps getting better,” he said.

Monahan chuckled when asked what he thought about the voter’s question about speculation on Clinton’s health. “It’s Fox News,” he said. “I take it for what it’s worth. I don’t watch Fox to learn anything.”