Clinton woos labor, Latinos on Calif. swing

In her first trip to California since her surprise victory in the New Hampshire presidential primary, a buoyant Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday worked the crowds at a union hall and a taco stand as she tried to shore up support among labor and Latinos, two prize blocs of voters for the Democratic candidates facing off in the Feb. 5 California primary.

Clinton, rocked last week when she placed a disappointing third in the Iowa caucuses, appeared relaxed and confident during her three-stop campaign swing through Southern California, taking freewheeling shots at President Bush for his “happy talk” about the economy and posing for snapshots with tattoo artists and others outside King Taco in East Los Angeles.

Clinton’s first stop of the day was at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers training center in the City of Commerce, where she officially unveiled her $70-billion proposal to stimulate the ailing economy. The package also would offer aid to homeowners facing foreclosure or winter heating bills that are rising because of the sharp increase in oil prices.

But she was greeted most warmly by the packed union hall when she drifted away from the scripted details of middle-class tax cuts and weatherization programs, and instead talked about saving American jobs, bringing the troops home from Iraq and getting “the two oilmen out of the White House.”

“The way America has always worked, if you’re willing to work hard and take responsibility, then you will get ahead, you will make progress, your children will have more and better opportunities,” Clinton told the crowd, which included union members and Clinton supporters from across Southern California.

“That’s why I want to be president, because I want to make sure that progress and that pride continues for that girl there,” she added, pointing to a youngster in the audience.

With Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-East Los Angeles) beside her, the New York senator made an obvious push to woo California Latinos, who account for roughly a quarter of the likely Democratic voters.

The politicians gave her a rousing introduction before she spoke at the union hall, and joined her as she mingled with the lunchtime crowd in East L.A.

The California campaigning comes just 3 1/2 weeks before what is likely to be make-or-break balloting on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5. California is home to 441 delegates, 10% of the total number going to the Democratic National Convention, and for the first time in decades it is poised to play a major role in picking a nominee for both parties.

To win that prize, and overcome the youthful buzz surrounding Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, her top rival, Clinton is turning to the Democratic faithful who helped resuscitate her in New Hampshire. There, Obama carried the independents, but Clinton won over self-identified Democrats, women and union households.

“I think she’s got the answers we need,” said Dale W. Chryst of Long Beach, a union officer with the electrical workers Local 11. “We’re spending all our time trying to fix the world; now we need to fix America. We need to bring back jobs and do something about healthcare. . . . She’s our best hope.”

Chryst said he was happiest to hear her support for alternative energy programs; he is part of a union crew that teaches members across the state how to install solar power in homes and businesses.

Clinton promised to advocate for those programs, which she said would create thousands of jobs in the country, reduce dependence Middle East oil and cut greenhouse gases.

“This election is about the future, so I thought I would come to where the future is actually happening,” Clinton told the union members, with daughter Chelsea at her side. She also noted the strong support many union members gave her husband during his two terms in the White House, reminding them that when he left office the country had a budget surplus and now is saddled with a $9-trillion debt.

When President Clinton left office, the national debt was about $6 trillion.

“The old man, he left us with a balanced budget,” said Bernard Perez, 58, a maintenance worker for the City of Commerce who came over to see Clinton. “The country has gone to hell in a handbasket since then.”

After that event, Clinton went to King Taco, attracting a crowd.

Julia Salinas, who works at the Metrolink office next door, quickly got in line for a snapshot of the candidate.

“I think she’s got my vote,” said Salinas, 55, of Norwalk. “I like what she stands for, and she’s a woman.”

Salinas said one of her biggest concerns was the country’s healthcare system. Salinas has had trouble finding quality care for her elderly father in Hemet, she said.

“He’s on Medicare, and I just don’t think they really think people on Medicare are a priority,” said Salinas, who considers Clinton best-equipped to tackle the problem.

Clinton later flew to San Diego, where she visited the home of Norma Hernandez, a volunteer who has hosted a “bring your own phone” calling campaign to drum up campaign support.

There Clinton rallied supporters with promises for comprehensive and compassionate immigration overhaul, not the “mean rhetoric” that she said was coming from Republicans.

Today, Clinton will fly to Nevada, which has its caucuses Jan. 19.

--

phil.willon@latimes.com