Clinton brings energy to Akron voter registration

Patrick Shade

Recognizing the importance of Ohio in the presidential election, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton came to Akron’s Goodyear Hall on Monday for a voter registration drive, as well as to share her plan and vision for the country’s next four years.

An estimated crowd of 2,600 —which caused the Clinton campaign to remove barriers on the balcony meant to shrink the room — was warmed up by Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, and Ohio Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan.

In a poll released Monday by Quinnipiac, Clinton is down five points in a four-way contest with Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein In Ohio, however, Clinton supporters didn’t seem to worry.

“I don’t put a lot of stock in polls,” said Donna Beheydt, a resident of Wadsworth and attendee of the . “Because if you remember correctly four years ago, (then-Republican nominee) Mitt Romney was ahead in a lot of polls … and (now-President Barack) Obama kind of creamed him.”

Clinton appeared shortly after the scheduled time, and quickly referenced a high profile endorsement given by Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James. The basketball star wrote an op-ed in Monday’s Akron Beacon Journal.

“I may become president, but he will be king of Ohio for as long as there is a king,” Clinton said, causing laughter from the crowd.

After encouraging attendees to make sure they and their friends were registered to vote, Clinton mentioned her major political party opponent: Republican nominee Donald Trump. Clinton compared how she and Trump grew up before talking about how her father was a small businessman.

In reference to small businesses who were financially stiffed by Trump, Clinton, whose father worked in the textile industry, said “I gotta tell you, I am really grateful my dad never got a contract from him.”

Corporate fraud was next on Clinton’s speech, with her criticizing the Wells Fargo scandal. Clinton then went after Trump for wanting to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“I have said we’re never gonna let Wall Street wreck Main Street again, and I mean it,” Clinton said.

Clinton then moved on to talking about Trump’s taxes, a major news story from the previous weekend. Clinton discussed the transparency of her taxes, and how she was grateful for the amount of taxes that she paid.

Some audible boos were heard when Clinton discussed Trump’s 1995 tax loss of roughly $900 million. Clinton then challenged Trump to release his taxes from before 2009, which are currently not under audit, before proposing a new rule herself.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be president, we’re gonna pass a law requiring anybody who is a nominee of a major national party to have to release their taxes,” Clinton said.

Clinton then turned to a story released hours earlier by Newsweek that revealed that Trump had used steel and aluminum made by Chinese manufacturers rather than Americans for recent construction products.

“How can he ‘Make America Great Again’ when he won’t even buy American products in our country?” Clinton asked, making a reference to her opponent’s slogan.

In a state where the union vote is crucial, Clinton also discussed how Trump did not care if the automobile industry went bankrupt, while she did.

Clinton finished her speech by mentioning her support of the Iran nuclear deal, and how if Americans listened to each other, things could get accomplished.