PURCHASE, NEW YORK, United States (Reuters) — U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton brought her campaign to where her political career began. Clinton spoke to a large audience at the State University of New York in Purchase, New York on Thursday (March 31). The school was where Clinton launched her bid for U.S. Senate in 2000.
During her speech, the Democratic front-runner rebuked Republican rival Donald Trump’s comments on abortion. On Wednesday, Trump said that women who end pregnancies should face punishment if the United States bans abortion, triggering a torrent of criticism from both sides of the abortion debate.
“One of my favorite Americans Maya Angelou said, ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them.’ Donald Trump is showing us exactly who he is and we should believe him. But let’s remember this, all Republican candidates want to make abortion illegal,” said Clinton.
Abortion has long been a divisive issue in American politics, even though the procedure was legalized in a Supreme Court ruling more than 40 years ago. Opposition to abortion has become a central plank in the platform of most conservative politicians.
During her speech, a few supporters of Bernie Sanders shouted “If she wins, we lose,” from the crowd.
As the protesters were leaving, Clinton said, “Here is what I regret. What I regret is they don’t want to listen to anybody else. What I regret is they don’t want to hear the contrast between my experience, my plans, my vision, what I know I can get done and what my opponent is promising.”
Also during Clinton’s speech, she reiterated her stances on education, student debt, job creation, marriage equality and national security, including her plan to defeat Islamic State.
