Clinton returns to New England

February 24, 2008 04:45 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By John C. Drake, Globe Staff

PROVIDENCE -- Senator Hillary Clinton told Rhode Islanders she was not overlooking their March 4 primary as she looks to blunt Senator Barack Obama's momentum following his victories in 10 straight contests across the country.

"Rhode Island is right up there with Ohio and Texas," Clinton said to an estimated crowd of 5,000 in a gymnasium at Rhode Island College today, aligning New England’s smallest state with those that some say are key to sustaining her campaign for president.

Clinton played up the differences between her universal health care plan and Obama's health care proposal in the rally, which came a day after she blasted the Illinois senator's campaign for what she said were misleading campaign mailers criticizing her plan.

"His plan cannot cover everybody because his plan does not require that everybody be covered," she said in the 35-minute speech. "Senator Obama says I'm going to make people get healthcare whether they can afford it or not. That is false, it is misleading, and it has been discredited, and yet his campaign continues to say it."

Obama has stood by the mailings.

"What I really don't understand is how anyone can run to be our Democratic nominee for president who is not committed to universal healthcare," Clinton said. "We're Democrats. We stand for the principal that every single person should have quality affordable healthcare."

Before she visted Boston for fundraising tonight, Clinton also spoke to a group of medical professionals at a healthcare roundtable at a Central Falls, R.I., restaurant.

Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio, and Texas all hold contests March 4. Former President Bill Clinton has said his wife must win in Ohio and Texas if she is to remain in contention for the nomination.

Clinton visited Providence days after Mayor David Cicilline indicated his support might be wavering, after he said members of her presidential campaign urged him to cave to the demands of the firefighters union ahead of her appearance.

On Friday, Clinton's campaign said no members of the staff would interfere in the city's business.

The mayor is a Democratic superdelegate, who, unlike pledged delegates won through a primary or a caucus, can vote for whomever they chose. With the race between Clinton and Obama so close, the campaigns have been lobbying for the support of every superdelegate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.