The First State is getting its first taste of the 2016 Presidential primary campaign.
Hillary Clinton’s organization started rallying its troops locally Thursday night, and enlisted the help of two of the state’s top elected Democrats.
Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) and Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) joined over 60 supporters in Wilmington at an event that sought to enlist volunteers.
Markell says his support of Clinton is largely due to her vision for the economy.
“She’s talking about both growing the economy, but also making sure the bounty of the growth is shared more broadly," said Markell. "It’s hard to tell what the Republicans are talking about because its become so vitriolic and I just really think she understands what’s going on in the world and she’s actually got a plan to grow and make share the benefits of all that are shared.”
Markell backed President Barack Obama over Clinton the last time Clinton made a run for the White House in 2008. He says Clinton has his support this time in part because of her time in Obama’s cabinet.
“Clearly what she has now is the four years experience as Secretary of State and I think that’s incredibly important," said Markell. "Given the complexity of the world around us having those four years of traveling around the world, meeting with and negotiating with these world leaders over some really complex issues I thinks is a real advantage. And I’d like the next president, whoever it is to be able to hit the ground running on those issues.”
Carper calls Clinton tough and smart, characteristics he says he saw her display when they served together in the Senate.
Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will be vying for Delaware’s 31 delegates in the state’s April 26th primary - one of five primaries in East Coast states that day. Voters in neighboring Pennsylvania and Maryland also head to the polls that day – along with Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Clinton currently leads Sanders 1,280 to 1,030 in pledged delegates and holds a substantial lead (469-31) in super delegates.
