Clinton Speaks At CMU During Campaign Stop In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton brought her campaign to Pittsburgh Wednesday evening, firing up a large crowd of her supporters on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University.

The rally was open to the public and a crowd of about 1,500 packed the gymnasium where she spoke.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald introduced Clinton to loud cheers from the crowd. The doors opened at 4 p.m. and the rally began just after 6:30 p.m. with Clinton wrapping up shortly before 7:30 p.m.

"To be in this great American city, a city that has not only built bridges, but moved into the future," said Clinton. "Demonstrating, absolutely, that you can have resilience if you are resourceful, if you don't give up, you keep working together, we can make it here in Pittsburgh and America."

Secretary Clinton said the next President must work to unify Americans.

"I think there are three big tests the next president has to meet," said Clinton. "Number one, can the next president actually deliver results and make differences, positive differences in the lives of Americans of all ages? You've got to be able to ask that. I think one of the ways you look is, what have you done already? Who have you helped, who have you fought for, who have you taken on, who have you stood up against? The second test is, can you keep us safe and continue to lead the world on behalf of American values. The third is, can you unify America, can you bring us together, can you end the divisiveness that has become all too common in our politics."

Clinton drew loud applause from the audience when she spoke about issues like equal pay, clean energy and a woman's right to choose.

"Hillary is a strong female," said Meg Boyle, a senior at CMU. "She represents everything I'm looking for in a presidential candidate."

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris also attended the rally and says he's supporting Clinton.

"I just love her message, and I believe in Hillary," Harris said.

Edie Popik from Belle Vernon was very excited to attend the rally.

"I'm so thrilled," said Popik. "I just wish I could have touched her. I'm 82-years-old, and I just want to see the first woman president."

Across the street from the rally, a handful of Bernie Sanders' supporters gathered.

"We just think it's time that someone was really fighting for progressive causes in the White House, and we don't think that Hillary's as good an option in that way," said Bobby Abramson, a Sanders' supporter.

Earlier in the day, Clinton spoke at the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention in Philadelphia before making her way to Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania's primary election will be held on April 26.

According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll, Clinton holds a 50-44 percent lead over rival candidate Bernie Sanders in Pennsylvania. Sanders made a campaign stop in Pittsburgh last week.

Among the Republican candidates, Donald Trump is in the lead with 39 percent of the voters' support. Ted Cruz is in second with 30 percent, while John Kasich has 24 percent.

However, in a head to head matchup, the poll shows that Kasich is the only Republican candidate who could defeat both Democratic candidates in the race in Pennsylvania.

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