Hillary Clinton held her first presidential campaign rally on Saturday, packing in crowds on New York’s Roosevelt Island to deliver a speech of broad strokes about her policy plans, and show some tech innovation to boot.
The Clinton campaign streamed the kick-off event live on Periscope, becoming the first presidential candidate to use use the app for such an event. The broadcast was hosted by Olympian Michelle Kwan.
“I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States,” said former Secretary of State Clinton to applause, while husband Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea looked on.
“You won’t see my hair turn white in the White House. I’ve been coloring it for years,” she joked.
Clinton’s speech frequently referenced her late mother, Dorothy Howell Rodham, saying her ambitions for Americans were shaped largely through her maternal advice.
Clinton discussed healthcare, the right to paid sick leave, women’s reproductive choice and gender disparity during her talk.
“[It’s time to] end the outrage of women earning less than men on the job — and women of color often making even less,” Clinton said. “This isn’t a women’s issue, it’s a family issue. Just like raising the minimum wage is a family issue. Expanding child care is a family issue.”
Clinton’s comment about her age wasn’t the only criticism she acknowledged. “Lord knows I’ve made mistakes,” she told the crowd, “and there is no shortage of people pointing them out.” She returned the favor to Republicans with some word play.
“Now there may be some new voices in the presidential Republican choir, but they’re all singing the same old song: A song called ‘Yesterday,'” said Clinton. “You know the one. All our troubles look as though they’re here to stay, and we need a place to hide away. They believe in yesterday.”
Interest in the event was high, with 550 journalists requesting to cover the event according to CNN.
“This will be a new moment. We have had the spring training, now it is opening day,” campaign chairman John Podesta told the network. “I think, for us, this is an opportunity to lay out really the operating manual for where she wants to take the country.”
2016 Presidential Contenders: The Race to the White House (Photos)
Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz was the first person to officially throw his hat into the ring on March 23.
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Republican Senator Rand Paul announced his candidacy on April 7.
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Former First Lady and Secretary of State, Democrat Hillary Clinton announced she would again seek the Oval Office on April 12.
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A Tea Party favorite, Florida Senator Marco Rubio announced his candidacy on April 13.
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A self-described democratic socialist, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced he would run on April 28.
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Retired neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson announced his candidacy on May 3. A native of Detroit, the Republican lived in Baltimore for 36 years.
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The first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, Republican Carly Fiorina announced her candidacy on May 4.
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Former Arkansas governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee announced his second presidential run in the GOP field on May 5.
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A former Republican senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum announced his second presidential bid on May 27.
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Former New York Governor George Pataki announced the launch of his presidential campaign with a YouTube video on May 28.
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Martin O'Malley, a Democrat and former governor of Maryland, joined the race on May 30.
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Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, announced he would run for the highest office on June 1.
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A former Republican and independent governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee announced his bid for the Democratic nomination on June 3.
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Rick Perry threw his hat into the ring for a second time on June 4. The Republican was the longest serving governor in Texas history.
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The son of one former president and brother of another, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announced his bid for the Republican nomination on June 15.
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Republican real estate mogul Donald Trump threw his hat into the presidential ring on June 16, saying he'd be “the greatest jobs president that God ever created.”
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"I'm running for President of the United States of America," tweeted Louisiana's Republican Governor Bobby Jindal, who used social media to announce his candidacy on June 24.
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After declaring that "both parties have failed our country," New Jersey's Republican Governor Chris Christie announced his intention to run on June 30.
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Jim Webb, a decorated Vietnam vet and the former Democratic governor of Virginia, announced his candidacy on July 2.
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Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker announced his candidacy on July 13 with a campaign video.
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Ohio Governor John Kasich announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination on July 21, saying no other candidate else has his experience dealing with deficits, unemployment and national security.
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Jim Gilmore, former Army intelligence officer and Republican governor of Virginia, announced his candidacy on July 30.
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From Jeb Bush to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the race continues to grow
Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz was the first person to officially throw his hat into the ring on March 23.