SANTA CRUZ (California) SENTINEL

January 22, 2008

Hillary Clinton due in Salinas Tuesday

J.M. BROWN
SENTINEL STAFF writer

SALINAS -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, will visit Salinas today to host a town hall meeting in advance of the Feb. 5 primary and reportedly receive the endorsement of the United Farm Workers, campaign officials announced late Monday.

The event is slated to begin between 2 and 2:15 p.m. at the Hartnell College Gymnasium, 156 Homestead Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m., and parking will be available at 411 Central St.

"It's very exciting; it's a historic event," said Shawn Bagley, co-chair of Clinton's campaign in Monterey County. "Hillary is here to work hard for the vote."

Bagley said he received confirmation of Clinton's visit about 10 a.m. Monday after requesting the visit in advance of today's anticipated UFW endorsement. Dolores C. Huerta, co-founder of the Keene-based labor group, and several other local dignitaries are expected to attend, Bagley said.

Luis Vizcaino, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, would not confirm whether the UFW endorsement would take place today and said Huerta was not planning to attend. Rather, Vizcaino said the purpose of the visit was to promote Clinton's economic stimulus package.

Bagley said the visit is especially important because "California finally gets to have a choice" about who the party's candidate is now that its primary has been moved to coincide with the nation's other "Super Tuesday" contests. He said the campaign selected Salinas for its history as an agricultural center and because "we have a Latino vote here that is very important to her in the upcoming election."

Today marks Clinton's first visit to the Central Coast during her campaign for the White House, but Bagley said she visited the Monterey Peninsula as first lady. Former President Bill Clinton visited Salinas twice.

Clinton is the third Democratic presidential candidate to visit Monterey County, after Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and former Democratic Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska, Bagley said.

"We're thrilled to have her come and visit," said Monterey County Democratic Party chair Vinz Koller of Carmel. "We think it's a great opportunity for Central Coast residents to see a presidential candidate firsthand."

Clinton, who debated Democratic rivals in South Carolina on Monday night, is expected to arrive and depart from Monterey Peninsula Airport today, Bagley said. Vizcaino said Clinton plans to travel to Arizona after the visit.