Duckworth Speaks Out At Clinton Rally
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Nearly 200 enthusiastic Hillary Clinton-backers filled a River North union hall for a pep rally and strategy session with some of the state's top women Democrats.
Childhood friend Betsy Ebeling told the crowd that ever since she first met Hillary Rodham in the 6th grade, she found her to be "an amazing listener" and said she is "a bridge over troubled waters," WBBM's Bob Roberts reports.
Those were hardly the terms used to describe Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who is seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, had sharp criticism of both Trump and Kirk.
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Duckworth, a retired Illinois National Guard lieutenant colonel, who lost her legs when enemy fire crippled the Black Hawk helicopter she piloted over Iraq, accused Trump of blaming the victims for sexual harassment in the military.
She again criticized Kirk for suggesting that the Obama administration paid Iran a ransom in return for release of four U.S. hostages.
One day after Kirk said in a broadcast interview, "We didn't have to get our guys back. We shouldn't have paid the ransom," Duckworth said such views are repugnant to any member of the military.
"We cannot afford that," Duckworth said.
Kirk is a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer. He has withdrawn his endorsement of Trump.
Duckworth also accused Kirk of being unwilling to work to curb the violence in Chicago's streets and said the nation won't go where it needs to go "with a reality TV star in the White House."
Duckworth, Chicago city clerk and state comptroller candidate Susana Mendoza, U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos and Jan Schakowsky and others said November is a "turnout election" and that the stakes are "too serious" to stay away from the polls.
