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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton used her stump speech Wednesday afternoon at Adams City High School in Commerce City to talk about her plans to revamp the economy through infrastructure investment. Her concise address was peppered with asides drawing sharp contrasts between herself and Republican candidate Donald Trump, reiterating that she is more qualified and better tempered than her opponent.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump is unqualified to be president and unfit to be commander in chief” she asserted.
Clinton said her infrastructure investment plan would be the biggest since World War II, and includes a focus on bringing broadband internet to all communities, especially rural areas that currently lack access. She also praised American manufacturing companies, like Denver’s Knotty Tie Company, which she visited earlier that day, but did not get into policy specifics on this topic (read her plans here).
Shouting above a roaring crowd of about 3,000 attendees, Clinton stated her plans to invest in education—to train 50,000 computer science teachers, make community college free and four-year schools debt-free, refinance existing student debt, and increase technical education in high schools—and touched on issues such as raising the national minimum wage, guaranteeing equal pay for women in the workforce, protecting civil rights, and “taking on the gun lobby.” She also promised to “defend and protect America’s public lands and our conservation.”
“The outdoor recreation economy is so important to Colorado and so many places in the West,” Clinton said, going on to criticize Trump and the Republican party platform item to privatize public lands.
She praised Colorado’s recent growth, particularly in public transportation and the new train to Denver International Airport.
“I look often at Denver and Colorado as examples [of economic growth], and it’s one of the reasons I admire your governor. The transit system in Denver—combined with the new airport, connecting not only Denver with the airport, but other places in the region—is growing this economy,” Clinton said. “And very importantly, it’s attracting a lot of young people who want to be able to quickly move from work to home to entertainment and everything else.”
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper introduced Clinton at the event and drove home the message that she is the more qualified candidate. Hickenlooper read items from the Cowboy Code of Ethics, saying Clinton embodies those values—be tough but fair, keep your promises, talk less but say more, and ride for the brand (work for everyone’s benefit, not just one’s own)—while Trump represents their antitheses.
The governor also stressed the importance of energy development, pointing out Clinton’s detail-oriented approach to these issues (read a Vox analysis on her climate and energy policies).
About 20 protesters gathered on street corners opposite Adams City High School—one of the state’s poorest-performing schools, according to Chartbeat—flashing signs that were pro-Trump, anti-Hillary, and for Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson. One Jill Stein supporter stood outside the school with a handkerchief saying “Philadelphia” tied over his mouth, another protester drew attention to the DNC email scandal.
Trump visited Colorado last Friday, speaking in Colorado Springs and Lowry, and his running mate Mike Pence also spoke in Colorado Springs Wednesday. Recent polls show Clinton ahead of Trump in Colorado by anywhere from two to 13 points.
