Clinton sees 'invisible' middle class

NASHUA -- Seeking to solidify support among the Democratic Party establishment in this early primary state, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York addressed more than 1,000 party donors last night, talking at length about the "invisible" middle class.

In recent weeks, Clinton's campaign has announced experienced staff hires, key endorsements, and strong poll numbers all in an attempt to show that she is not only the strongest Democratic presidential candidate, but the inevitable nominee.

"If the goal is to overwhelm your opponents I think she is well on her way of doing that," said former ambassador George Bruno, of Manchester, N.H., who represented the United States in Belize under former president Bill Clinton and is supporting the senator's White House bid.

In her speech, Clinton said middle-class families, single parents, college students, and military families are being ignored by the Bush administration.

"You are invisible to the oil companies earning record profits while you pay more at the gas pump. You are invisible to the companies who outsource your job, or lay you off or end the promise of your pension," Clinton said. "For six long years, President Bush and the Washington Republicans have looked right through you."

"If you're a career government scientist raising the global warming alarm; a conservationist trying to protect the environment; a government accountant looking into no-bid contracts that have cost the taxpayers billions of dollars; even if you are a Republican US attorney trying to enforce the law impartially -- they've tried to make you invisible to the rest of us," she said.

"They're not invisible to me," Clinton said. "And when we retake the White House, they will no longer be invisible to the president of the United States."

Clinton headlined the 100 Club fund-raising dinner for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Party officials said it was the most successful dinner for a single candidate in the event's nearly 50-year history.

Clinton's speech impressed Fred Stephens of Wolfeboro.

"She certainly has to be considered to be a very credible candidate, though I am going to take my time and hear from all the candidates before making up my mind," Stephens said.

Like Stephens, Jane Goodman, of Hollis, was seeing the New York senator in person for the first time.

Goodman said she related to Clinton's theme that many are invisible to the Bush administration. "I think she said what many of us are thinking," she said.

Earlier in the day, Clinton bought hot chocolate from a Nashua chocolate store and held private meetings with well-known activists and elected officials.

She held a majority of these meetings in a hotel suite where key New Hampshire Democrats were ushered to a table with swivel chairs and water. Some were even offered soup while Clinton asked for their endorsements.

About half of those who met with her said it was too early to endorse anyone, one aide said.

However, Clinton took the time to drive to Concord, where she me t privately with popular Democratic Governor John Lynch and Democratic matriarch Mary Louise Hancock, an 86-year-old former state senator.

In the past week alone, Clinton's campaign hired three experienced campaign staff members for her New Hampshire campaign as well as hiring her first staffers in Nevada, which is scheduled to hold its caucus just days before the New Hampshire primary next January.

Also this week, she received the endorsements of House majority leader Mary Jane Wallner, and executive councilor Debra Pignatelli.

"It is like she took the entire John Kerry campaign and transferred them to her campaign," said state Representative Mary Ann Knowles, the former Hillsborough County Democratic chairwoman. "She is building a very impressive team."