Primary Place Online

On Friday, December 21st, I went to hear Hillary Clinton speak at the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. While I'm a supporter of Joe Biden, my husband is undecided and my daughter (aged 2) cheers for her every time she comes on the television. And so, despite the fact that we were exhausted, getting ready for the holiday, and overwhelmed by the snow, we ventured out to hear her speak.

I think the candidate was as exhausted as the crowd was. It was great to see a big turnout and strange to see George Stephanapolous sitting in the midst of us. I've already responded to someone else's post about some of her substantive comments. However, I just wanted to make a point that one-on-one she was fantastic. We had received a holiday card from Hillary and Bill, a card my daughter thought was sent directly to her. She brought it with her to the gym, excited to see the real Hillary Clinton. At the end of the Q&A, she said she was happy to talk to anyone who wanted to hang around. We waited a short while so that Ella could meet her. I met Hillary Clinton a few times back in the early 90s when I was working at the House of Representatives. She has certainly grown into her public role, and any concerns about her "coldness" or formality were diminished when we were with her. I had the chance to watch her and shake hands briefly at the Loaf & Ladle in late November, and then, as now, she was relaxed and comfortable with people. As "Senator Pothole" in NY, she has taken care of her consituents, and I was impressed with her people skills. She signed the card for my daughter, was happy to pose for a picture, and was generous with her time. Yes, she's running for president. But she was human, and after all that she's been through in the public eye, we appreciated that.