MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Hillary Rodham Clinton attempted to rally thousands of influential New Hampshire Democrats on Saturday with a fiercely partisan message, as she struggled to regain her footing in the primary contest.
Calling viewers of the three-hour Republican debate on Wednesday night “gluttons for punishment,” Clinton accused Republicans of focusing on problems the country faces rather than solutions.
“Fifteen candidates, five hours and not a single fighter for the middle class,” she told more than 3,500 party activists and elected officials gathered for the state party’s annual convention. “Republicans are not just deeply inaccurate they’re increasingly out of touch and out of date.”
Her fiery, nearly 45-minute address marked an effort by Clinton to turn the focus of her party beyond primary divisions, casting herself as the strongest contender for Democrats eager to maintain control of the White House. She vowed to combat attacks from “the super PACs and the Koch brothers” and promised to fight for causes that have rallied the Democratic base like gun control, criminal justice reform and paid family leave.
But she saved her toughest critique for front-runner Donald Trump, whom she accused of “trafficking in prejudice and paranoia.” Clinton has repeatedly sought to link Trump’s controversial statements to the rest of the GOP field, arguing there’s little difference between his views and those of the Republican Party.