Chelsea Clinton
campaigned for her mother Tuesday in Puerto Rico, where
the marathon race for the Democratic presidential nomination
has brought new importance to a U.S. island that
typically has scant say over national affairs. With
just over a month to go before Puerto Rico's June 1
primary, the former first daughter toured the U.S.
territory's capital of San Juan and shook hands with
well-wishers, posed for snapshots, and tried to charm
voters on behalf of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Chelsea Clinton
campaigned for her mother Tuesday in Puerto Rico, where
the marathon race for the Democratic presidential nomination
has brought new importance to a U.S. island that
typically has scant say over national affairs.
With just over a
month to go before Puerto Rico's June 1 primary, the
former first daughter toured the U.S. territory's capital of
San Juan and shook hands with well-wishers, posed for
snapshots, and tried to charm voters on behalf of Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In the day's
first campaign push, the 28-year-old met with roughly 250
senior citizens at a residence run by an order of Catholic
nuns. She touted her mother's health care proposals
and stressed her electability.
''I passionately
believe my mother is the most prepared and is the
strongest candidate,'' said Clinton, who dressed in dark
blue jeans and a black jacket despite the tropical
heat.
The crowd
appeared to made up entirely of the Clinton faithful,
including 78-year-old Annie Riera.
''It's very good
that she came here to meet the Puerto Rican people
firsthand. I'm proudly voting for her mother,'' said Riera,
pointing to a campaign pin on her blouse.
Later in the day,
Clinton toured the capital's colonial district of Old
San Juan. She was also scheduled to meet with a Christian
youth group, followed by a visit to a gay rights
organization. She refused to take questions from
reporters.
Angel Urena, a
spokesman for Hillary Clinton's campaign, said the young
woman has been a strong asset for her mother in the tight
race.
''In many
respects, she has taken on the role as one of Senator
Clinton's greatest advocates on the campaign trail,''
Urena said.
Her two-day visit
comes roughly three weeks after her father, former
president Bill Clinton, stumped across the U.S. territory
for his wife
In coming days,
Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are both expected
to touch down in the Spanish-speaking U.S. territory, where
local politics largely revolve around the island's
relationship to the U.S. mainland.
Some analysts say
Hillary Clinton's New York ties could strengthen her
support in Puerto Rico and reduce Obama's lead in the
overall popular vote -- possibly improving her case at
the Democratic National Convention in August. Puerto
Ricans cannot vote in the general presidential
election, but a high turnout is expected in the June 1 vote.
Puerto Rico,
which has 63 delegate votes at the August convention, will
hold one of the last primaries. (David McFadden, AP)
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