Rep. Smith praises Democratic candidates
By Matt Lombardo
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
One day after the Democratic debate in Cleveland, Ohio between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania State representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D.) stopped short of endorsing either candidate during a visit to West Chester University.
She praised both Democratic presidential candidates during a visit to a public affairs writing course at WCU Wednesday night. Smith's comments came just under a week before pivotal primary elections in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island.
While the representative's comments obviously will not impact the results of these races, they could hold some weight when the students vote in Pennsylvania's April 22 primary, which will account for 188 delegates.
"[Barack Obama] is very good at bringing people together," Smith said. "He's like a JFK to me."
Obama, the senator from Illinois currently holds a 1,369-1,267 delegate lead over senator Hillary Clinton from New York. However, Clinton holds the advantage in Superdelegates, leading Obama 236-185.
Having already appeared at a local campaign rally in support of Hillary Clinton, Smith still refused to offer an all-out endorsement, while still considering supporting one of the two potential nominees.
"She's really intelligent, she's more then capable," Smith said of Clinton. However, Smith added that Clinton is divisive and there are people who absolutely hate her.
Smith went on to attribute Clinton's divisiveness to the actions of President Bill Clinton, and his alienation of republican constituents during his time in the White House.
Divisiveness is a major point of contention for the state representative, serving her first term in Pennsylvania's legislature. Smith bewailed the partisan politics at both the state and federal levels of government during her discussion.
"Partisanship is like watching children," Smith said. "[To politicians,] it's all about them and getting reelected."
In fact, Smith refuses to vote on bills centered around as she put it "the four divisive issues; gays, guns, abortions and immigration."
She praised both Democratic presidential candidates during a visit to a public affairs writing course at WCU Wednesday night. Smith's comments came just under a week before pivotal primary elections in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island.
While the representative's comments obviously will not impact the results of these races, they could hold some weight when the students vote in Pennsylvania's April 22 primary, which will account for 188 delegates.
"[Barack Obama] is very good at bringing people together," Smith said. "He's like a JFK to me."
Obama, the senator from Illinois currently holds a 1,369-1,267 delegate lead over senator Hillary Clinton from New York. However, Clinton holds the advantage in Superdelegates, leading Obama 236-185.
Having already appeared at a local campaign rally in support of Hillary Clinton, Smith still refused to offer an all-out endorsement, while still considering supporting one of the two potential nominees.
"She's really intelligent, she's more then capable," Smith said of Clinton. However, Smith added that Clinton is divisive and there are people who absolutely hate her.
Smith went on to attribute Clinton's divisiveness to the actions of President Bill Clinton, and his alienation of republican constituents during his time in the White House.
Divisiveness is a major point of contention for the state representative, serving her first term in Pennsylvania's legislature. Smith bewailed the partisan politics at both the state and federal levels of government during her discussion.
"Partisanship is like watching children," Smith said. "[To politicians,] it's all about them and getting reelected."
In fact, Smith refuses to vote on bills centered around as she put it "the four divisive issues; gays, guns, abortions and immigration."
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