Chelsea Clinton makes Oregon debut for mom
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EUGENE, Ore. - Whisked in and rushed straight to the front, Chelsea Clinton took center stage Saturday in front of a crowd of more than 100.
Clinton answered questions from friends and foes, like one LCC student who did his best to rattle the former first daughter. But it didn't seem to work.
Theater arts student Matt Keating stepped to a microphone and began by saying "With all due respect..."
"Oh dear," Chelsea shot back.
Undeterred, Keating then went on to ask what advice she would give her mom if Obama offered her the vice presidential spot on the ticket.
The younger Clinton indicated she thought the question was premature, given that voters in Oregon and other primary states have yet to vote on a presidential nominee.
"Well, sir, you make a lot of assumptions," she shot back, drawing laughter and applause from the audience.
But she also made it clear she fervently backs her mom's bid for the White House.
"I do believe that when people put this election in the context of their own lives, I believe they will reach the same conclusion that I have - that my mom's the strongest candidate and would be the best president."
Afterward, Keating gave Chelsea Clinton a backhanded compliment.
"Maybe she should have a career in politics, because she certainly gave a political answer. It was pretty funny," he said.
Clinton talked about education, her mother's plans for the Middle East and the nation's energy crisis.
"My mom is the only democrat who is still running that actually voted against President Bush's 2005 energy bill," she said.
Eugene was the first of three Oregon stops Clinton was to make Saturday to tout her mom's candidacy in advance of Oregon's May 20 primary. Later appearances were planned at Oregon State University and Portland State University.
She's the third member of the Clinton family to campaign in the Oregon contest against Obama. The New York senator made stops in Hillsboro and Eugene last weekend. Former President Bill Clinton was in the state earlier.
As quickly as she came, she went heading back to the campaign trail.
On Friday night, the 350 Democrats gathered for their party's convention got a campaign sales pitch from an Obama supporter, Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie, who said Obama has the ability to put together enough Democratic and independent votes to win in November.
Clinton answered questions from friends and foes, like one LCC student who did his best to rattle the former first daughter. But it didn't seem to work.
Theater arts student Matt Keating stepped to a microphone and began by saying "With all due respect..."
"Oh dear," Chelsea shot back.
Undeterred, Keating then went on to ask what advice she would give her mom if Obama offered her the vice presidential spot on the ticket.
The younger Clinton indicated she thought the question was premature, given that voters in Oregon and other primary states have yet to vote on a presidential nominee.
"Well, sir, you make a lot of assumptions," she shot back, drawing laughter and applause from the audience.
But she also made it clear she fervently backs her mom's bid for the White House.
"I do believe that when people put this election in the context of their own lives, I believe they will reach the same conclusion that I have - that my mom's the strongest candidate and would be the best president."
Afterward, Keating gave Chelsea Clinton a backhanded compliment.
"Maybe she should have a career in politics, because she certainly gave a political answer. It was pretty funny," he said.
Clinton talked about education, her mother's plans for the Middle East and the nation's energy crisis.
"My mom is the only democrat who is still running that actually voted against President Bush's 2005 energy bill," she said.
Eugene was the first of three Oregon stops Clinton was to make Saturday to tout her mom's candidacy in advance of Oregon's May 20 primary. Later appearances were planned at Oregon State University and Portland State University.
She's the third member of the Clinton family to campaign in the Oregon contest against Obama. The New York senator made stops in Hillsboro and Eugene last weekend. Former President Bill Clinton was in the state earlier.
As quickly as she came, she went heading back to the campaign trail.
On Friday night, the 350 Democrats gathered for their party's convention got a campaign sales pitch from an Obama supporter, Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie, who said Obama has the ability to put together enough Democratic and independent votes to win in November.
