SPRINGFIELD ‒ Hillary Clinton called on Western Massachusetts voters to help her win the state on "Super Tuesday," as she stopped in Springfield early Monday to promote her Democratic presidential campaign.

The former secretary of state who rallied supporters at the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, asked voters to turn out for Tuesday's primary election and pledged to stand with the city if sent to the White House in November.

"The day before Super Tuesday, when most states are in play, people will be caucusing and voting in primaries and I thought I'd come here to ask for your support -- the support of the people of Western Massachusetts...All of you know here in Springfield, you are a city on the way back up," she told supporters. "I'm going to be a president and a partner to help you keep going."

With polls predicting a close race between Clinton and Bernie Sanders in Massachusetts, the former first lady continued to push the differences between her and the Vermont senator on health care, higher education costs and firearms-related issues.

Clinton added that she has another advantage over her Democratic rival if sent to the general election: she's stood up against Republican attacks.

"If you come vote tomorrow, and if I am so fortunate to be the nominee, I will turn my attention to whomever the Republicans decide to nominate," she said. "One advantage I have is they've been after me for 25 years and I'm still standing."

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who also helped rally supporters at the event and endorsed her over the weekend, praised Clinton's foreign policy experience, as well as her efforts to fight for stronger families, the middle class and main street.

He added that "she is firm, she is experienced, but more importantly she is respectful."

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, who introduced the former first lady at the event, called Clinton "uniquely qualified to be president" and said when she wins the Democratic Party's nomination she will help change the tone of the national conversation.

The congressman urged rally-goers to hit the polls Tuesday and ensure the former first lady wins Massachusetts.



"This has been favorable terrain for the Clintons, we've got to make sure it stays that way," he said.

Michael Lucey, a 65-year-old Easthampton resident who attended the rally, said he thinks Clinton is a "terrific candidate, especially with her experience."

"I think she's got a lot of experience and I mean a lot, as in like huge," he said in an interview, adding that he thinks she will win Massachusetts on Tuesday.

Amy Brentano, 54, said she traveled more than an hour from Richmond to see Clinton because she believes the former first lady has a good chance of becoming the next U.S. president.

"I think she's smart, she's very articulate and she has a plan," she said in an interview, adding that she will likely vote for Clinton on Tuesday.

Brentano said she likes fellow Democratic presidential candidate Sanders, but thinks the former secretary of state has a better shot of winning the general election.

She added that she would also like to see a woman elected president, saying while Clinton's gender wouldn't be the deciding factor for her, she finds it interesting.

"I have a daughter and it would be amazing to see it happen in my lifetime," she said.

Sharie Adams, a 31-year-old Springfield teacher who brought a group of eight students to see Clinton speak, said she personally is on the fence about what candidate she will support on Super Tuesday.

"I'm not solid on anyone. Unfortunately at this point in the game both candidates Sanders and Hillary at some point represented an issue of mine, so I'm not completely 100 percent on the fence for anyone," she said in an interview. "I'm still making a determination."

Despite personally being undecided, Adams said she thought it was important to bring some 18-year-old students to the rally so they can get a firsthand look at the political process and hear from a candidate that's she contended is supposed to represent them.

"I think this is a great opportunity for them to kind of come really see what's being said, if it resonates with them and just to take part in the process," she said.

The former first lady planned to swing her campaign through the rest of the Bay State Monday with stops in Boston and Worcester.

Sanders, who campaigned in Boston and Amherst last week, meanwhile, also returns to Massachusetts Monday, hosting a last-minute campaign rally in Milton.