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Bill Clinton touts presidential campaign of wife at Canfield fundraiser
CANFIELD
Former President Bill Clinton raised money for the presidential campaign of his wife, Hillary, during an event that left the normally talkative Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras almost speechless.
“Oh, what an event,” Betras said after the Thursday fundraiser at the Zoldan family house in Canfield. “I can’t even describe it. To have so many people from the Mahoning Valley in the same room as Bill Clinton is amazing. To have that group of leaders in one room, the positive energy, I can’t describe it.”
Clinton spoke for about 25 minutes to a crowd of about 200.
The event raised about $400,000 to $600,000 for Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
During his speech, Clinton touted the candidacy of his wife, the Democratic presidential frontrunner, pointing to her experience as secretary of state and U.S. senator, according to those at the event.
The Clinton campaign didn’t permit the media to attend the event.
“He started talking about the tragedy in Paris and how important it is that the United States be a beacon for bringing nations together,” said state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th.
“He spoke about candidates who want to build walls when we should be building opportunities for people.”
Hillary “is uniquely qualified for the job,” Boccieri said, quoting the former president’s talk at the Zoldan house.
The former president had a busy schedule Thursday in Ohio with events at the University of Dayton and Ohio State University before ending it at the Canfield fundraiser.
He arrived about 15 minutes late to the event in the back of an SUV with a cigar in his mouth, wearing a pair of reading glasses, He waved to the local media as the motorcade drove by.
Inside were several local politicians and celebrities, including those with Youngstown ties.
Actor Ed O’Neill and former lightweight boxing champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, both Youngstown natives, were at the event. Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel was there, as well as football legend Jim Brown, singer Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.
“Ed O’Neill and Jim Brown told some great stories,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, who introduced both the celebrities and Clinton to the audience.
“Bill Clinton laid out a couple of things,” Ryan said. “First, he talked of Hillary’s lifelong commitment to helping people, going back to her law school days. The other is how prepared she is to be president more than any other candidate. He made the pitch and it was very compelling.”
Ryan, who’s already campaigned on behalf of Hillary Clinton in Iowa and New Hampshire, said for Democrats to win Ohio – a key swing-state in presidential campaigns – they need to do very well in the Democratic Mahoning Valley.
“This is an important area,” he said. “Democrats have to win really, really big here.”
Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains said the former president is “very charismatic. His message is his wife is the best candidate to be president, and that she would bring people together.”