Where one presidential campaign goes hunting for votes, others are sure to follow.
Democrats who rose Sunday looking forward to candidate Bernie Sanders’ appearance at Hudson’s Bay High School got a second superstar jolt before long: Word that former President Bill Clinton, the husband of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, would be appearing at Vancouver’s Clark College late Mondayafternoon — just over 24 hours after Sanders’ appearance right across the street.
That’s because Washington State’s Democratic caucus will be held on Saturday. Any local Democratic voters who haven’t made up their minds yet — and even those who have — sure must be enjoying the way the candidates are reaching out to them.
Clinton will appear at two events in Vancouver Monday. The first is a public “Get Out The Caucus” rally at 5 p.m. at the Clark College student union at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.
Doors will open at 4:15 p.m. and Clinton is expected to take the stage at 5 p.m.
The rally is free and open to the public, but please register to attend via www.hillaryclinton.com/events/view/2253825.
Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said that Sunday’s Bernie Sanders event is expected to prove larger than the Bill Clinton visit.
“Our first goal is just to get through today,” she said on Sunday, meaning the security and traffic challenges of Sanders’ mobbed appearance at Hudson’s Bay High School. “Today is expected to be on a larger scale.”
The second Clinton event, later Monday evening, is a private fundraiser at the Evergreen Highlands home of Craig Hartzman and Jim Johns, hosted by Hartzman, Johns and Jane and Paul Jacobsen. The prices listed on the website are $2,700 per “champion” and $1,000 per “guest.” “Champions” get their photograph taken with the former president.
Why Vancouver?
Washington State hasn’t gone Republican in a general presidential contest since it helped re-elect Ronald Reagan in 1984, and no Republican presidential candidates visited here before their party’s precinct caucuses in February. But the task of these early caucuses is selecting convention delegates only; both parties will also hold a presidential candidate primary on May 24, and it’s possible that candidates will start barnstorming the state, including Vancouver, to capture votes in time for that.
Vancouver also has the advantage of being a bistate media market, with news coverage — and political interest — coming from Oregon as well as Washington. That makes Vancouver a two-for-the-price-of-one campaign stop for presidential candidates.
Before he visits Vancouver Monday, Clinton will hold a lunchtime Get Out The Caucus rally at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane. Then he’ll head west.
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton herself will campaign in Seattle, Everett and Puyallup.
