In Oregon, Clinton vows not to give up

HILLSBORO- Hillary Clinton took the stage at Liberty High School to a nearly deafening roar, as the crowd that had been waiting for her jumped to its feet.

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley and Governor Ted Kulongoski, two of the state's most popular politicians, flanked the Clinton.

Clinton had her own words of praise for the Oregon politicians; promising that should she win the White House, Hooley will be "working again" (Hooley recently announced her retirement) and touting the Governor's bowling skills.

The marathon campaigner sounded a bit hoarse, but the tiny indication that she is any worse for the wear complemented her message of never giving up.

Clinton addressed the calls for her to drop out of the race; a message tailored to an enthusiastic Oregonian crowd that rarely gets the chance to count in the primary.

"This is a special moment not only in history of the Democratic party, but in our country," she said. "It would be like saying there are two minutes to go on the clock, let's quit."

"One thing you know about me is that I don't quit," Clinton proclaimed, bringing the crowd—which has yet to vote—to its feet.

Clinton touched on her history, her credentials, her respect for Dr. Martin Luther King on the 40th Anniversary of his death and her experience during the civil rights era.

"All my life I have worked for what I believe to be a fair equal society," she said, lamenting that this generation might now actually leave this country worse off than before, "breaking faith with all that has come before."

Clinton covered many familiar campaign themes, a "truly universal health care system," ending the war in Iraq and tax breaks for the middle class and working families.

One talking point seemed to especially resonate in the crowd: Clinton, who worked her way through school, promised to regulate the "predatory student loan companies" and forgive debt for those who enter public service.

Clinton's message regarding renewable energy also excited the crowd in this green state, traditionally one of the leaders in energy efficiency.

"I look at Portland," Clinton said. "Portland has now reduced greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels. There is a fast growing market for renewable energy sources. Portland is a leader in green buildings. Its carbon footprint is one of the smallest in the nation."

To reinforce her message, the Senator called up a local organic farmer, who explained the threat she faces from the potential liquefied natural gas line across her farm, an issue that has become greatly contested in Oregon.

"Oregon is about the future. It's about planning for tomorrow," she said.

Clinton was peppered with a range of questions from the crowd, which touched on everything from stem cell research, to home schooling, to water policy, to the Supreme Court.

“When our constitution was written, neither Barack nor I were in it. I want justices who know that you have to be balancing all the forces at work in America,” she said, speaking about the need for a Democrat to win the White House."