What it’s Actually Like Inside a Hillary Clinton Campaign Rally
Hint: Local Politicians Make the BEST Hype-men
I was surprised as I stood in line for the Clinton campaign’s October 22nd rally in Pittsburgh. I had previously heard the presidential candidate speak, but this time the line was much shorter. Hillary last stopped in the Steel City just a day after the Democratic National Convention drew to a close. I recall that the line for her campaign event wrapped all over Downtown. When I arrived last Saturday, however, the line hadn't yet reached the end of the block. Already, the October event seemed to have a different air than Clinton's previous Pittsburgh rally.
Since developing an interest in public affairs during my early teen years, I have always been quick to jump at the opportunity to attend a rally or live speaking event. I have heard not only Clinton, but also Tim Kaine, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Al Gore, and Colin Powell. As I entered the rally, I thought I knew what to expect: boisterous comments from the audience, an empowering playlist with a political agenda, appearances by local politicians, prepared soundbites, and--of course--overused stereotypes about Pittsburgh.
All of my expectations were met. The crowd periodically interrupted the speeches with aptly-timed cheers and boos as well as predictable interjections about Donald Trump (my favorite being that he can’t read). Before and in-between stump speeches made by local government officials, music blared from speakers in the school’s gymnasium. The situation seemed odd given its context. The rally was hosted at Taylor Allderdice High School, which is nationally known for producing famous rappers such as Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller. The campaign could have easily capitalized on this scenery by referencing both of the rapper’s vocal disapproval of Donald Trump. Instead, the music played at the rally seemed to be The Official Hillary 2016 Playlist on Spotify, which consists of many empowering tracks by female artists as well as a few token songs by Latino artists. I recall hearing this music at the rally and being unimpressed: was the Clinton campaign really making such an obvious vy for female and Latino votes?
The music would intermittently pause for local political favorites to endorse Clinton. Unlike her July visit to Pittsburgh, this event had a much more excited atmosphere and a clear objective of winning. Local favorites, such as County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto all took the podium to address the crowd. Each speaker seemed to grow more enthused than the last. Fitzgerald flaunted his young daughter in a “Girls Just Want to have Fun...damental Human Rights" t-shirt, touted about how she asked him to be Hillary Clinton for Halloween, and then joked that “they don’t make pantsuits in 5T.” Mayor Peduto was met with cheers from the audience, waving his arms in excitement as he took the podium. To much of the crowd’s amusement, he greeted the room by referencing Trump’s infamous words from the final presidential debate:
“Hello you bad hombres and nasty, nasty women”
The audience roared with excitement in response to Peduto's greeting. The local politicians were the ultimate hype-men for Clinton, and kept the momentum building with short and direct remarks. The high school gymnasium added to the animated atmosphere, making the event feel more like a pep rally than a campaign stop in a major swing state.
The room remained feisty, even as dad-joke extraordinaire Tim Kaine took the stage, made serious remarks about the campaign, and introduced his running mate. Predictably, both Kaine and Clinton relied on the overused clichés that have been carelessly thrown around throughout entirety of election season, such as “Love Trumps Hate." Both politicians were also sure to try to appeal to Pittsburgh stereotypes, such as the overzealous sports fan and hard-working steel mill laborer. Dan and Pat Rooney, members of the family dynasty that owns the Pittsburgh Steelers were proudly displayed like trophies by the podium's side. As a young professional living in Pittsburgh and recent Pitt alumna, I found these references to be polarizing and outdated. The Steel City is more than its Super Bowl rings and has risen past the crash of the steel industry.
The October 22nd campaign event met many of my expectations, but also offered a few welcomed surprises. The highlight of the rally was the Arkansas Travelers, longtime Clinton-supporters from Bill’s tenure as the state’s governor. The group paraded into the gymnasium in a conga-line fashion, dancing and flaunting their “Arkansas Travelers for Hillary” signs. As the playlist with a political agenda blasted through the speakers, the group waved their signs in unison and some even gyrated to the beat. Almost as remarkable were Tim Kaine’s feminist statements and Hillary’s one-liners.
Seventeen days before the election, Hillary did something surprising in Pittsburgh--she had fun. This relaxed, easy-going persona was far from the character attacks against Clinton that branded her as bland and over-prepared. In a turn of events, the candidate shed her perfectionist ambiance to entertain the crowd. At the pinnacle of her speech, Clinton reflected on the final presidential debate against opponent Donald Trump. With an enormous grin she remarked:
“That was the third and last time I will ever have to debate Donald Trump...I have now spent four and a half hours on stage with Donald proving that I have the stamina to be President”
In terms of personality, Kaine and Clinton appeared to switch identities during portions of each of their speeches. While Clinton’s tone was more lighthearted and playful, Kaine called attention to the systematic gender divide that has prevented any women from holding the nation’s highest office, despite them having “made up the majority of the electorate” in every election since 1964. In a declaration with a surprisingly feminist tone for a white, male politician, Kaine described how women have bolstered his own political career and how he in turn is now proud to be helping a woman bolster her own:
“I am so proud to be a strong man supporting a strong woman, who will be the next president of the United States”
While you can learn plenty about politics from the comfort of your living room, I recommend that you also go out and explore the political climate of the real world. Participate in the democratic process directly and listen to what candidates actually have to say instead of relying on hearsay from for-profit pundits. Many of my expectations of Clinton’s campaign rally were met, however, there were a few new things I learned about the candidate through attending her rally, such as the loyal support she has from a group of Arkansas residents that her husband served over two decades ago. To the readers of Politically Polished, check out a campaign event for ANY election this season, whether it be a presidential contender or a local candidate. You might be inspired by not only what the politicians have to say, but also what you feel compelled to say to them.
**Fellow Pennsylvanians, don’t miss out! The following politicians will be making stops across the state until November 8th:
Friday, October 28th: Bill Clinton will be campaigning for Hillary in Aliquippa, Duncansville, and Reading
Friday, October 28th: Mike Pence will make a campaign stop on behalf of Donald Trump in Bensalem
Saturday, November 5th: Katy Perry will perform at a Get Out The Vote event in Philadelphia on behalf of Hillary Clinton
Saturday, November 5th: Jill Stein will be campaigning in Philadelphia at Arch Street Meeting House
