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Hillary Clinton speaks about her plan to fight for the interests of women and families at the “Women for Hillary” grassroots organizing meeting at the Athenaeum in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. Yi-Ke Peng/WOUB

Clinton Makes Campaign Stop In Columbus


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Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Columbus Thursday morning to hear from Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The rally at the Columbus Athenaeum is Clinton’s first stop to the swing-state’s capitol as a 2016 presidential candidate.

“I am going to be a strong advocate for families because when families are strong, America is strong,” Clinton said. “If we don’t support families in dealing with the challenges we face, we can’t have the country we know that they want.”

Hillary Clinton speaks about her plan to fight for the interests of women and families at the "Women for Hillary" grassroots organizing meeting at the Athenaeum in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. (Yi-Ke Peng/WOUB)
Hillary Clinton speaks about her plan to fight for the interests of women and families at the “Women for Hillary” grassroots organizing meeting at the Athenaeum in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. (Yi-Ke Peng/WOUB)

Clinton kicked off her speech talking about women’s rights and policies that benefit families such as equal pay, paid leave and affordable childcare.

Supporters say Clinton is exactly what the nation needs when it comes to understanding and making a difference on women’s issues.

“I think that’s what the world needs- or what the United States needs- is a women for president. She knows what a woman needs,” Glenna Angel said.

Clinton also talked about the high prices of college courses and student debt accumulated after college.

“The answer to that is no, it doesn’t have to be so hard. And does it have to be so expensive to be able to go to college and do you have to come out with so much debt? No you don’t. We’re gonna make college affordable for everybody,” she said.

Hillary Clinton supporters welcome Clinton on stage at the "Women for Hillary" grassroots organizing meeting at the Athenaeum in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. (Yi-Ke Peng/WOUB)
Hillary Clinton supporters welcome Clinton on stage at the “Women for Hillary” grassroots organizing meeting at the Athenaeum in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. (Yi-Ke Peng/WOUB)

Another Clinton supporter says this election is especially important for students.

“I think if college students took a more active role in politics, we can push for policies that work for us so I mean one of the biggest things college Democrats wants to do this year is get students out to the polls and try to get students excited about politics,” Mario Belefollia said. “I think we really can make a difference.”

Clinton also explained on how she is going to help the middle class by raising people’s wages across the board.

“We’re gonna raise the minimum wage with no exceptions for everybody,” Clinton said. “And then we are once and for all going to enforce equal pay and equal work so every women gets their fair do.”

Though she does not mention his name—Clinton took a jab at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“And there is one particular candidate who just seems to delight in insulting women every chance he gets… I have to say. If he emerges, I would love to debate him.”

In the end, Clinton says by addressing women’s rights, college students and the middle class, America will be a place where everyone has a shot at achieving their dreams.

“We can build an America where we are working with one another, helping one another, having each other’s back again.   And we can build an America where every father can say to his daughter ‘you can grow up to be president of the United States.”