http://www.cbsnews.com/news/democratic-candidates-rally-their-party-in-south-carolina/
Hannah Fraser-Chanpong CBS News November 21, 2015, 6:58 PM
Democratic candidates rally their party in South Carolina
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the annual Blue Jamboree in the Lowcountry at the Jenkins Institute for Children in North Charleston, South Carolina November 21, 2015.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Three Democratic presidential candidates gathered on Saturday to rally their party faithful and make it official: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley will be on the ballot in South Carolina.
"It is absolutely imperative that we do everything we can leading up to this primary to convince South Carolinians to turn out and vote," Clinton said, speaking to the crowd gathered for the Charleston County Democratic Party's annual Blue Jamboree.
Clinton made her pitch, reiterating the pledge she made during the last debate not to raise taxes on the middle class. She dinged Sanders, who spoke first, on his plan to create a "Medicare-for-all," single-payer health care system.
"Other candidates want to increase taxes for working people and the middle class as part of their health care plans," she said. "Well, I don't want to see your taxes go up."
Sanders, in his speech, made an effort to emphasize his commitment to criminal justice reform and O'Malley, who ditched his suit jacket and tie, continued to draw a sharp contrast with the other candidates.
"My name is Martin O'Malley," he said. "I am not a former socialist, I am not a former Republican."
And sitting between the American and South Carolina flags, each candidate signed their statement of candidacy for the South Carolina primary election.
Clinton is the current favorite among South Carolinia Democrats, earning 69 percent of the vote among likely Democratic primary voters in the state, according to a Monmouth University Poll released earlier this month. That's compared to 21 percent who said they would support Sanders, and one percent who chose O'Malley.
Her campaign's organizational strength showed at Saturday's event, with many of the attendees passing through the magnetometers to claim the first seats sporting royal blue t-shirts emblazoned with her logo on the front. A Sanders staffer passed out free t-shirts and "Bernie" signs and, as Clinton's remarks grew closer, a crowd of sign-wielding Sanders fans edged closer to the press riser and into direct view of the television cameras.....................
= new reply since forum marked as read
