Bill Clinton went on a campaign bus tour of Florida today where he began in Jacksonville and ended in Gainesville. He made a number of stops along the way outside voting locations and in local businesses. The goal of the trip was to speak with and meet as many voters as possible and share Hillary Clinton’s vision for America. At various events, Bill was joined by other Democrats such as Reverend Jesse Jackson and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. Bill urged everyone to take advantage of early voting and to ensure that they cast their ballot for Hillary. Videos from today’s events will be added when/if available.
On Saturday, Hillary for America released a mini-documentary titled “The Story of Us.” The eight minute video chronicles Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidency, a story that began on April 12, 2015. As Americans vote and got to the polls on Tuesday, the documentary is a great look back at the last year and a half. Watch the documentary below.
Tim Kaine returned to Florida on Friday where he spoke on the campus of the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Kaine stressed the importance of the election and encouraged everyone to get out and vote next Tuesday. He said that the race is close and that “we can’t take anything for granted.” During his speech, Kaine outlined a number of Hillary Clinton’s key platform points including her plan to make college more affordable, raise the minimum wage, and pass comprehensive immigration reform. He also attacked Donald Trump for his divisive campaign saying that America is truly stronger together. A video from the event will be added when/if available.
Meanwhile, Kaine’s wife, Anne Holton, spoke to a group of supporters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Holton spoke about Clinton’s plans to raise the minimum wage, ensure that woman receive equal pay, and expand early childhood education. She said that none of that will be possible unless everyone gets out to vote on Tuesday. Holton addressed the historic nature of electing the first woman president saying, “And we will all own a piece of it, and won’t it be fun to have Utah own a piece of it?” A video from the event will be added when/if available.
On Friday, Vice President Joe Biden campaigned in Madison, Wisconsin. During his speech, Biden explained the importance of electing Hillary Clinton as president and down ballot Democrats into office such as U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold. Biden spoke about Clinton’s platform including her plans to create jobs by investing in infrastructure and American manufacturing. He said that none of that will happen if we do not elect Democrats to the House and Senate. Biden also criticized Donald Trump for his divisive tone and how his slogan implies that America is not a great country. “It makes me so damn angry. Folks. You’re incredible. When I hear the best days of America are already behind us it makes realize how fundamental this divide is,” he said. Biden concluded by asking voters to support Clinton and Feingold on Tuesday. A video of the vice president’s speech is below.
Hillary Clinton returned to Ohio on Monday where she began the day at an event on the campus of Kent State University. During her speech, Clinton briefly addressed the FBI’s investigation into her email, and she urged the bureau to release the findings to the American voters. She said that she is confident that nothing will be found. Clinton then spoke about a number of her platform points including her plans to create jobs, build an economy that works for everyone, and make college more affordable. Clinton also attacked Donald Trump for his temperament and divisive rhetoric saying, “Imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis. Imagine him plunging us into a war because someone got under his very thin skin.” She then asked everyone to get out and vote on November 8th or to take advantage of early voting. A video of Clinton’s speech is below.
Clinton then spoke at a rally in Cincinnati where she was introduced by Mark Kelly and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Clinton, again, opened her speech by addressing the FBI’s investigation into her emails saying, “Go ahead: Look at them.” She then spoke about the importance of the election and far reaching effects the next four years will have on this country. She presented her plans to continue the economic growth started by the administration of President Barack Obama and said that she wanted to make even more progress. She also attacked Trump for his relationship with Russia and his famously short temper. Clinton concluded by asking voters to support her because she wants to win Ohio. Watch a video from the event below.
To: HFA GOTV Volunteers
From: Robby Mook
Re: The Choice Facing Voters in This Election
We are just days away from the most important election of our generation concluding. Already, over twenty million people have voted, which is an all-time record this early in the voting process. With the stakes so high, a record 70,000 volunteer shifts were completed this weekend alone to get Hillary and Democrats up and down the ballot elected. That’s more shifts than on the same weekend in 2008 or 2012 for President Obama–and those numbers will grow dramatically in the coming days.
I cannot overstate the fact that battleground states have that name for a reason–the result will be incredibly close and the presidency could hinge on the outcome. Your work to communicate our message and get our supporters to the polls will be the margin of victory in these states.
Since each of you will be spending so much time talking to voters in the coming weeks, I wanted to brief you on what’s really at stake on in this election, so you can help spread the message. There have been a lot of ups and downs in this campaign. And a lot of distractions. But through it all, Hillary Clinton has stayed focused on what really matters: the American people. Their lives. Their families. The kind of country we all want for our children and grandchildren. That’s what this election is actually about. And when you clear away all the noise, the choice is stark.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just a question of temperament and experience, although those are vital qualities in a President. What’s really on the ballot in this election are two different visions for America: Donald Trump’s dark and divisive vision that could tear our country apart, and Hillary Clinton’s hopeful, inclusive vision that says we’re stronger together.
Over the course of the next week, you will hear Hillary Clinton explain this choice to voters, including the difference between:
A president who understands the challenging world in which we live or one who is too erratic and uninformed to have control of nuclear weapons
As a former Secretary of State and senator, Hillary Clinton brings an incredible amount of experience with the key issues facing America around the world. Traveling nearly a million miles as America’s top diplomat, Hillary has handled issues ranging from nuclear proliferation to military readiness, from women’s rights to climate change, and is ready to lead from day one.
Beyond his lack of understanding of foreign policy and unwillingness to learn, Donald Trump is a loose cannon with some dangerous views on major global issues. Trump would encourage more nuclear weapons around the world, has insulted our allies and praised several authoritarian dictators. He even encouraged a foreign government to hack his opponent, and since then has refused to acknowledge the U.S. Intelligence community’s conclusion that the Russian government has done just that.
A president who has spent a lifetime fighting for women or one who has a career of demeaning and bullying them.
Hillary Clinton made history this year by becoming the first female nominee of a major party, but she has been breaking ground for women during her entire career. From her groundbreaking commencement speech at Wellesley to declaring for the world that “Women’s rights are human rights,” Hillary has been an inspiring voice, fighting for the rights of women around the world.
Donald Trump has a very different—and very disturbing—record. We’ve all heard the revolting comments he made on a bus 11 years ago, but while those comments were shocking and appalling, they were not surprising to anyone who has followed Trump’s many public comments over the years. Trump’s comments and actions would be unbelievable if he hadn’t spent years publicly insulting and degrading women who stood up to him, bragging about walking in on nude pageant contestants, who were often under aged, and making jokes about objectifying women. And to the women who have accused him of acting on his comments, Trump has threatened legal retribution.
A president who knows that we are stronger together, compared to one who would sow hatred and division.
Hillary Clinton believes in an America where everyone counts and everyone has a place. She’s spent her life acting on those beliefs, from her early work at the Children’s Defense Fund through a campaign that has consistently called out Trump’s division and hatred while offering a policy agenda that would bring people together and address the issues that keep us apart. Hillary has prioritized issues like immigration reform, ending LGBT discrimination and criminal justice reform.
Donald Trump set the tone of his campaign by insulting Mexican immigrants and has continued those insults and divisive comments through today. From Muslims to Gold Star families to a judge of Mexican heritage born in America to one of his own African American supporters just this past week, no one has been safe from Trump’s insults and lies. Trump has also built his political efforts around conspiracy theories, starting with the racist lie that President Obama was not born in America and support from hate movements like that alt-right—whose leaders Trump has been too slow to denounce.
A president who will fight for an economy that works for everyone or one who just fights for those at the top
Hillary Clinton understands that despite the progress we’ve made under President Obama, the deck is too often stacked against working Americans — and she has an agenda that will make the economy work better for everyone. Her plan will create good-paying jobs, make sure that those at the top pay their fair share in taxes, while offering working families help with paid family leave, affordable child care and refinancing student loans.
The choice is clear. Americans deserve a president with the temperament and experience to tackle the issues facing our country and to work with all Americans to solve them, not a candidate who has proven himself time and again to be temperamentally unfit and unqualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief. They deserve a president who holds the optimistic view that Americans are stronger together, rather than one who could destroy the values we hold dear and tear America apart.
In the coming week, voters have the opportunity to stand up for our values and reject Donald Trump’s dark divisive vision for America. Thanks to your help, their voices will win the day.
Hillary Clinton spoke at a canvass kick-off rally in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday. She began the event by addressing yesterday’s revelation that the FBI is is looking into “new evidence” related to her emails. Clinton called on FBI Director James Comey to release the full details of the investigation for the benefit of American voters saying, “Some of you may have heard about a letter written by the FBI director. You probably have a few questions about it. It is pretty strange to put something like that out with such little information right before an election. In fact, it’s not just strange, it’s unprecedented and deeply troubling.”
Clinton then gave one of her typical campaign stump speeches in which she laid out several of her proposed policies. She stressed the importance of the election and said it is about more then just Republican vs. Democrat. This election is about the direction of our country. She said, “Everything we care about is at stake. The American dream itself is at stake.” Clinton said that Donald Trump’s hope is that women, young people, and minorities do not turn out to vote, but she urged everyone to vote saying, “That goes against everything we stand for. And do you know how to stop him? By showing up with the greatest turnout of voters ever. Let’s break every record.” Watch a video Clinton’s speech below.
On Friday, FBI Director James Comey sent a letter to a Congressional Judiciary Committee explaining that the FBI had decided to reopen the case investigating Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State. The three page letter did not go into much detail which lead the Clinton campaign to respond. Campaign Chair John Podesta released a statement calling on Comey and the FBI to release more information surrounding their reasoning considering the election is less than two weeks away. The statement from Podesta is below.
“Upon completing this investigation more than three months ago, FBI Director Comey declared no reasonable prosecutor would move forward with a case like this and added that it was not even a close call. In the months since, Donald Trump and his Republican allies have been baselessly second-guessing the FBI and, in both public and private, browbeating the career officials there to revisit their conclusion in a desperate attempt to harm Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
FBI Director Comey should immediately provide the American public more information than is contained in the letter he sent to eight Republican committee chairmen. Already, we have seen characterizations that the FBI is ‘reopening’ an investigation but Comey’s words do not match that characterization. Director Comey’s letter refers to emails that have come to light in an unrelated case, but we have no idea what those emails are and the Director himself notes they may not even be significant.
It is extraordinary that we would see something like this just 11 days out from a presidential election.
The Director owes it to the American people to immediately provide the full details of what he is now examining. We are confident this will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July.”
The FBI did elaborate later in the day saying that additional evidence related to the Clinton investigation was discovered on a laptop seized during the investigation of Rep. Anthony Weiner. FBI officials said that the bureau will investigate the newly discovered emails on the laptop and that it is possible that the emails could be duplicates of ones previously turned over by the Clinton camp. State Department officials said they have not been made aware of the FBI’s new evidence. More details are likely to be released in the coming weeks, but the news of a reopened investigation could affect Clinton at the polls.
Read the letter from Comey to Congress below (download the letter HERE).
UPDATE (10/28): Following an event in Des Moines, Iowa, Hillary Clinton spoke at a press event and addressed the issues of the FBI reopening its investigation. Clinton said that the FBI needs to release additional details regarding its investigation with the election being less than two weeks away. “Voting is underway, so the American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately,” she said. She said that she was confident that nothing new would be found and that she did not know what new evidence the FBI might be referring to adding, “Right now, your guess is as good as mine, and I don’t think that’s good enough.” A video of Clinton’s statement is below.
UPDATE (10/29):The Washington Post obtained a copy of an internal memo sent by FBI director James Comey to FBI employees. In the letter, he briefly explains his reasoning for taking the early details of an investigation to Congress. Read the letter below:
To all:
This morning I sent a letter to Congress in connection with the Secretary Clinton email investigation. Yesterday, the investigative team briefed me on their recommendation with respect to seeking access to emails that have recently been found in an unrelated case. Because those emails appear to be pertinent to our investigation, I agreed that we should take appropriate steps to obtain and review them.
Of course, we don’t ordinarily tell Congress about ongoing investigations, but here I feel an obligation to do so given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed. I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record. At the same time, however, given that we don’t know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails, I don’t want to create a misleading impression. In trying to strike that balance, in a brief letter and in the middle of an election season, there is significant risk of being misunderstood, but I wanted you to hear directly from me about it.
Jim Comey
UPDATE (10/29): Hillary for America responded to the news with several press releases and a post on Medium from campaign chair John Podesta.
UPDATE (10/30): The FBI announced that it obtained a warrant to search the emails found on a laptop belonging to former Congressman Anthony Weiner. While it is unclear how many emails on the laptop, if any, are relevant to the Hillary Clinton email investigation, an official revealed that there are over 650,000 emails on the computer. It is likely that the majority belong to the former Congressman, but his wife, Clinton aide Huma Abedin, also used the laptop. FBI officials also revealed today that several lower level investigators knew the emails existed weeks ago, but only recently brought them to the attend of Director James Comey. It is also unclear why a warrant was received after Comey briefed Congress of the investigation on Friday.
Hillary for America campaign chair John Podesta and campaign manager Robby Mook have been on the defensive since the revelations were announced. The campaign released a video about the facts of the case and calling for more details to be released considering the timing. The video released by The Briefing is below.
UPDATE (10/31): Former Attorney General Eric Holder wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in which he called FBI director James Comey “a good man,” but said that he made a mistake by telling Congress about evidence that may have nothing to do with the Hillary Clinton email case. In the editorial, Holder says, “The department has a practice of not commenting on ongoing investigations. Indeed, except in exceptional circumstances, the department will not even acknowledge the existence of an investigation. The department also has a policy of not taking unnecessary action close in time to Election Day that might influence an election’s outcome. These rules have been followed during Republican and Democratic administrations. They aren’t designed to help any particular individual or to serve any political interest. Instead, they are intended to ensure that every investigation proceeds fairly and judiciously; to maintain the public trust in the department’s ability to do its job free of political influence; and to prevent investigations from unfairly or unintentionally casting public suspicion on public officials who have done nothing wrong.” Read the full editorial HERE.
Hillary Clinton campaigned with First Lady Michelle Obama in Winston Salem, North Carolina where they spoke to a crowd of over 10,000 supporters. Clinton spoke first about a number of platform points geared toward women including ensuring equal pay and paid family leave. She also attacked Donald Trump for his comments about and actions toward women saying, “I wish I didn’t have to say this, but indeed dignity and respect for women and girls is also on the ballot this election.”
Clinton then turned the microphone over to Obama who spoke about the importance of the election and voting for Clinton and other Democrats across the country. Most importantly, she stressed the importance of voting against Trump, although she never mentioned him by name. As Hillary said, the stakes in this election could not be more clear. This election is about something much bigger. This is about our children…. With every action we take, with every word we utter, we think about the millions of children watching us….. And why every day we try to be the kind of politicians that children deserve.” She concluded her speech by encouraging everyone to vote on November 8th or to take advantage of North Carolina’s early voting. Watch a video from the event below.
While in the area, Clinton made a surprise stop in Greensboro where she spoke with voters in line waiting to vote. North Carolina offers early voting, and Clinton stopped and visited with several of them. Clinton was pleased by the turnout saying, “Early voting is really all about you. We’re going to have the biggest vote ever in North Carolina if all of you come out and vote.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren campaigned on behalf of Hillary Clinton in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania today. Warren spoke about Clinton’s plans to help the middle class by raising the minimum wage, creating new jobs, and boosting the economy by investing in the country’s infrastructure. Warren also asked voters to help Democrats win back the Senate by voting for Senate hopeful Katie McGinty. Warren said that McGinty is a fighter that will ensure that the progress proposed by a Clinton administration will get carried out. Warren concluded her speech by urging everyone to vote on November 8th. A video from the event will be posted when/if available.
Meanwhile, in Queens, New York a fundraiser was held on behalf of Hillary for America. The event featured a conversation with Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Representative Joe Crowley.
Hillary Clinton Speeches 