[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/04/11/art.clintoncrime.ap.jpg caption="Clinton unveiled a new crime fighting plan Friday."]PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) - On the face of things, with its sizeable African-American population, Philadelphia looks to be friendly territory for Barack Obama by the time the Pennsylvania primary rolls around on April 22.
But Hillary Clinton is making a push Friday for the urban vote, holding two policy-oriented events in the city to spotlight the twin issues of crime and the economy.
Appearing at a YMCA in west Philadelphia this morning with Mayor Michael Nutter, who yesterday signed into law a series of controversial anti-gun measures, Clinton unveiled a plan to cut the national murder rate in half.
Introducing Clinton, Nutter urged the federal government to provide more assistance to mayors around the country working to put ex-offenders back to work and protect families from violent crime
“Here in west Philadelphia, we’re worried more about Al Gangsta than al Qaeda,” Nutter joked. “Osama bin laden and some of those other folks couldn’t last five minutes in west Philadelphia.”
Though Clinton did not outline a target date for reducing the murder rate, Clinton said she plans to do so by putting “100,000 new police officers on the beat” in cities nationwide and providing grants for community partnerships, reducing gang violence and after school programs. She said as president she would renew the assault weapons ban, which Congress let expire in 2004.
“It is a sad day in America when the president can find hundreds of billions of dollars to police another country’s civil war, but cuts funding for police officers right here at home,” Clinton said.
Clinton offered praise for a program instituted in New York City by her old rival: former mayor Rudy Giuliani. The program, called COMPSTAT, compiles statistics as a way to hold law enforcement bodies accountable for crime reduction. Giuliani often promoted the program while campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination.
After the speech and before heading to an economic event with Nutter at Drexel University, Clinton roamed the corner of Chestnut and 52nd streets shaking hands with voters, while supporters of both Obama and Clinton jammed the block and cheered for their respective candidates.
"Tell mayor Nutter this is Obama city," yelled one man, needling the African-American mayor for endorsing Clinton. But the Obama fan shouted a caveat: "I still love you, Hillary."
- CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
Why can't you chill and let the election take its course. If you are so defant about Obama, keep it to yourself, I have read multiple comments from you being his poodle. Keep it up that way but don't try to indulge in voters mind okay
women power!!! Go Hillary!
Go Hillary Go!
She is the change candidate and the only one who cen make the USA look better to the world. Her plan for Iraq and the economy are the best!
Hillary Clinton '08 & '12
Katherine's makes NO SENSE AT ALL. Why would the media favor Obama, because he's unelectable??? So the media is more republican and like to covers losers??? How about media love covering clinton's mess ups. Maybe she should stop lying or stop getting caught so easiliy. I love this DUMB arguement, that media favors OBAMA. right, like the Rev. Wright thing was only played once or twice. I believe CNN must have run that clip at least 200 times. Is there any logic to Katherine's arguement (she was the 2nd poster on thread.)
Give it up, you're not black!
Don't Obama's followers have jobs? Why are they always the first to post messages after an article appears on the Ticker? Usually the first 20 or so messages are all so wildly anti-Hillary and pro-Obama that people with the ability to reason, evaluate, and think for themselves are disgusted. Having so many lies and so much hatred shoved down our throats by Obama's campaign and his followers has begun to backfire. People don't want to listen to your wild rantings and unfair criticism of a decent and honorable candidate. When results from the next primaries start rolling in, you'll all see the damage you've done and how you've alienated potential Obama voters.
So... does she have a hunting license or will she be "poaching" delegates again?
African Americans overwhelmingly voted for and absolutely LOVED Bill and Hillary Clinton. I think we know why the switch occured. and to "PROUD" Army and Navy (both capitalized) Mom...Obama is a republican in disguise.....and by the way.."war mom"...Bill Clinton sent our troops to war and got less than 50 killed...compared to more than 4,000.
I GUESS IT'S TRUE THAT MORE WOMEN ARE SEXIST THAN MEN.
GO HILLARY!!!!
GO HILLARY!!!!
how is Hillary going to put more police on the beats of inner cities? Maybe FBI agents? What other police force would she as president hold the budget for? If they believe her in West Philadelphia than it would appear that she would need to improve the educational system there...
She could, weep. Or she could send someone out....a "surrogate" to check out Obama's KDG teacher....see if he/she made any unsavory comments. She could make up some cool war stories.....or pretend like she solved the problems in Ireland.....without even having diplomatic access to sensitive information.
Hil-liar-y
Liar liar pant suit on fire..........Please please .......PHYLI! do not belive a word she says.
Obama is now doing the right thing. He is saying that it will not be easy to walk away from Iraq. We do have to face reality and he is now being honest and we have to support Obama. Hillary do have experience. Experience in lying. She has been doing it every day. Now Colombia is blowing up in her face. Bill just won't shut up. NAFTA will still be around under the Clinton administration. Ohio got egg all in there face. If PA don't do the right thing, so will they.
Obama 08
Now that she has used and tossed the Hispanics aside, its time for the African-Americans again. Pander and lie to whomever it takes, I hope that seniors, women and un-informed stay on your side or you are done.
Hillary should get the urban vote. NYC voted for her – she knows what a city is about. Let the people see her and make their decision - not have a million commercials thrown at them.
LT, u never lied before?
I thought you had PA locked up, now your hunting for urban votes, well urban voters as we have seen in the past primaries are smart progressive voters. They are thursty for a new washington and tend to prove this in the voting booth. They don't tend to reminise on the past, like the Clinton economic years in the 90's,but looks ahead to whats at stake,and votes for the true change agent.
Obama 08!
Yes We Can!
Her attempts at winning votes in Philadelphia or anywhere are futile. Her campaign is a sinking ship.
The race goes on. Only a blind person will not see the end on the road.
Hillary has no credibilty and there no doubt that soo many people realized it.
I know that there are lots of people who will support her no matter what lies and fraudulent activity she was caught on.
I can't blame ever support her, because of the name recognition.
Yeah the Clintons are fabricators, they will tell you what they think you will like to hear even though it is false.
There is no law that banned telling lies, so they are getting away with all lies and exagerations.
Well if she wins don't expect things to get better
Old, uneducated white women will not be enough for Hillary.
Sorry, ladies.
Too bad she didn't invite Cheney to come along.
Is this a comedy Clinton show or what?
NOW she decides to HUNT for the URBAN votes?
What does this say about her TRUE feelings about the PA URBAN voters. "Hey, I don't need you till I'm behind in the polls, THEN I DEMAND YOUR VOTE FOR ME AND ONLY ME!!!"
What a SAD SAD SAD woman this Sen. Hillary Clinton is, she keeps digging that hole of hers deeper and deeper it's like this big DITCH by now so that Chelsea and Bill can bet down into the dirt with her too. Hey, it's a family that cheats and deceits together, get into the hole together!
Go figure. I'm NOT sure Sen. Clinton even gets it...she's LOST her credibility, how many times does it need to be said? Americans DON'T TRUST YOU!!
NO TRUST, NO NOMINATION, NO OVAL OFFICE!!!!
If America doesn't vote for Hillary, then I'll move to another country. Don;t make me do it.
Hillary and Nader 2008
Hillary will never get the urban vote!! Count on it. LMAO
See, here is a measure that you can test Hillary on. She wants to work on droping the murder rate. So when she's elected people can compare if the murder rate goes down.
Obama is promising change and hope, but none of these things are testable.
Let's elect someone who puts the time and effort into knowing what the issues are, and can make promises, so that we can hold our elected officials accountable.
America don't be fooled by Obama.
He has showed poor judgement the past 20+ years with his Anti-American, Racism, Allegiance to Africa BS.
If this information would have came out before the other primaries I guarantee you he would not be ahead right now.
He is not ELECTABLE!!!!!!!
VOTE HILLARY for PRESIDENT!!!!!!!