A Clinton rally in Texas turns up the urgency, for a while

Live Mariachi music rang from the stage, mothers danced with their children on their toes, and onlookers gazed from outside the fenced park prior to Senator Hillary Clinton's taking the stage last night in San Antonio. Far from the quiet milling and hum of country music in the background last month at Pier 30 in Seattle, the Clinton supporters in San Antonio seemed lit with a new drive. It wasn't quite desperation, but the volunteers at last night's event seemed to understand and carry with them the critical importance of doing well here in Texas. Groups organized with homemade t-shirts and ran around the rally gathering people together and speaking about their support for Clinton. This type of campaigning was not seen at Seattle's event. Perhaps it's because the efforts of volunteers and supporters are beginning to resemble the frantic pace of the Clinton campaign. A month ago the Clinton movement was in full swing. The senator came into Washington ahead in the delegate count, and few imagined just one month later she would be scrounging for votes in Texas just to stay in the race. Dana Chambers, who traveled from Washington, D.C. to help Hillary, told us of her need for the senator to be elected. She, and a group of other mothers, had sacrificed being with their young children to travel down to Texas and campaign for Clinton. While both the Seattle and San Antonio crowds were comprised mostly of middle-aged white women, the other half of the crowd in Texas represented Clinton's Latino focus. The rally catered to this demographic group, with several of the nation's prominent Hispanic leaders there to introduce and show their support for the senator. Mixing bits of Spanish into their addresses, the speakers last night were not shy about expressing their desire for a woman in the Oval Office. They spoke directly to the Latino women in the audience telling them Clinton was their only hope this election. The crowd flowed in and out, dancing to the music and listening to the various Latino speakers. By the time Clinton made it on stage, over two hours late, many had already gone home. The senator's actual speech lasted 20 minutes at most, which left some supporters we talked to afterward feeling slightly dissatisfied. "I still like Hillary and I'm still for her and I'll support her," said a younger supporter, "But I've been here since 5 and she only talked for 20 minutes. It was disappointing." Reporters Kim and Sellers are part of a University of Washington journalism class, taught by professor David Domke, that has been covering the presidential race in Washington, Idaho, and Texas. For more coverage by the class, go to their blog, Seattlepoliticore.org.