By SUSAN EVANS
The Tribune-Democrat
EBENSBURG
April 21, 2008 11:27 pm
—
A tired but upbeat Bill Clinton stopped in the county seat Monday to tout his own success in office and to ask voters to pull the lever for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Speaking on the wraparound porch of the mansion that houses the Cambria County Historical Society, the former president joked with the crowd and jabbed at his wife’s opponents.
“They’re throwing the kitchen sink at her now,” he said.
“But this election is too big to be decided by little things. Your future, and the future of your families, is riding on it.”
The crowd of about 300 who stood on the front and side lawns of the corner home responded with cheers and applause.
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” business owner Tom Murtha said. “This is great for the town and for the people to have a president visit.”
Deb Nesbella, an Ebensburg resident and administrator of the county’s Laurel Crest nursing home, said she was not too surprised that Bill Clinton stopped in Ebensburg on his way across the state.
“We’re very representative of the small towns of Pennsylvania, and he clearly delivered Hillary’s message,” Nesbella said.
While speaking of the need for clean energy research, tax credits for college, and rebuilding the military, Clinton took time out to speak directly to men carrying anti-NAFTA signs.
“Everyone admits that changes need to be made,” he said, referring to accusations that the North American Free Trade Agreement is unfairly harming American businesses.
“We need better enforcement (of fair trade). But we are never going to be able to enforce trade agreements if we have budget deficits,” he said.
“We made a terrible mistake getting away from our budget surpluses.
“But Hillary will bring this country back to balanced budgets.”
Pundits believe Hillary Clinton needs to win today’s state presidential primary against Barack Obama for her campaign to remain viable.
Ebensburg was the former president’s 47th stop in Pennsylvania as both presidential campaigns swept the state, often criss-crossing each other, until the last possible moment Monday.
“At this stage, you try it all,” he joked.
He criticized the Republican administration for channeling benefits and tax breaks to the 10 percent wealthiest Americans, and in the process threatening the middle class.
“Vote for a president who will turn this thing around,” he said.
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