Laredo became the center of the political attention on two occasions last week.
The first took place on Wednesday, Feb. 20 when Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts visited Laredo in support of Senator Barack Obama.
The second event happened when Senator Hillary Clinton visited the very next morning to a much bigger and more enthusiastic crowd in downtown Laredo on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Kennedy was introduced to the audience by Joe Kennedy (Robert Kennedy’s grandson), who first delivered a speech mostly in Spanish and then presented the senator.
When Kennedy walked onto the stage, the crowd of about 200 people erupted in applause.
The senator shouted, “Laredo, are you ready for the good news? One year from today, George Bush will not be president of United States!”
During his speech, Kennedy explained why he supported Obama’s presidential campaign. Kennedy said he worked closely with Obama in the Senate on many important bills, and he diffused the accusations that the junior senator from Illinois lacks experience.
Kennedy added that he, like many others, was inspired by Obama as the true agent of change, one who presents a positive, hopeful message for ordinary Americans. After the rally, Kennedy held a private meeting in which he explained in greater detail his enthusiasm for Obama’s candidacy.
The Clinton rally required more preparation, especially in terms of the security and planning. The event took place around 10:15 a.m. on Thursday morning, but the downtown closed closed most of its streets around 7:30 a.m.
Melinda Esquivel, a TAMIU junior majoring in criminal justice, attended the Clinton rally.
“I was astonished of how tight the security was throughout the event and also was surprised of the amount of people that actually showed up,” said Esquivel.
“I am uncertain of Hillary’s prospects of winning the nomination, but I will support the Democratic candidate. Whether it’s Hillary or Obama, a minority will win the nomination; history will be made either way, and that’s exciting.”
Clinton’s visit to Laredo signals the importance of Laredo’s vote and the impact of Texas on her campaign. Many political analysts think that the in order for Clinton to keep up with Obama, it is imperative she win Texas and Ohio by large margins. In Texas, the sizable Hispanic vote will play a crucial role in winning the state.
Hortencia Carrillo, staff assistant for the Department of Social Sciences, who attended the event
“Hillary was very informative. She talked about border issues, healthcare, and education,” said Carrillo. “I really like her, and I hope she will be our next president of the United States.”
This year Texas might be the maker or breaker of the next nominee for the Democratic Party; realistically Obama can afford to lose Texas and recover down the line. The same is not true for Clinton. Remembering the Alamo might be the new theme for her campaign.