El Nuevo Día: Hillary Clinton aims Puerto Rico (Translation by Katz)

[Colobo]

Clinton: "You know you got a friend in me"
by José A. Delgado for El Nuevo Dia

Washington- Hillary Clinton's electoral comittee has started to consider the possibility of her campaigning in Puerto Rico, if the vote by vote battle for the Democratic nomination continues.

In fact, Clinton told CNN En Español that she has all the intention of campaigning for the vote of Puerto Rican Democrats in the Island, that will have their primaries on June 1st.

"Puerto Ricans know they got a friend in me", said Clinton, while highlighting her activism against the military activities in Vieques, in favor of economic development measures and of a better access of federal health programs for the residents of the island. She also reminded viewers that she represents about a million New York Puerto Ricans in the Senate.

Clinton favored in 2006 the recommendations of the Interagency Group formed by the White House that has suggested helping Puerto Rico move towards statehood or independence. That same year, she co-sponsored the bill written by Republican Mel Martinez who proposed, just like the White House did, starting the process with a "Yes or No" referendum.

However, after announcing her presidential aspirations she has preferred to limit her position to reaffirming that she supports the free will of the Puerto Rican people, without references to the proposals by George W. Bush's Republican administration. "Puerto Ricans are the ones who have to make the decision and the Federal Government should support them", said Clinton on the CNN interview.

"For the moment, we cannot announce Sen. Clinton's schedule. Definitely she is interested in the votes of the Puerto Rican delegates. That's why a couple of days ago Terry McAuliffe (finance director) traveled to the Island and met with the 'Puerto Ricans for Hillary' that is supporting the Senator, to express to them that 'we need their help'", said Fabiola Rodríguez, the spokesperson for the comittee, yesterday.


More, in Spanish, here:
http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/portada/noticias/saben_que_tienen_en_mi_una_amiga/361516