HARLEM — Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lashed into her two closest opponents before a friendly crowd at the Apollo Theater Wednesday, saying that Republican Donald Trump was unfit to lead the nation and fellow Democrat and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders would not be able to get his goals accomplished.
"Loose cannons tend to misfire. In a dangerous world that's not a gamble we can afford," Clinton said of Trump, whose controversial comments on domestic and international policy have angered even some in his own party.
As for Sanders' proposals such as healthcare and college funding, the "numbers don't add up," she added.
The rally comes as Clinton kicks off her campaign for New York's April 19 primary — which is shaping up to be a contentious race that pits the former junior senator from New York for eight years against the Brooklyn-born-and-raised Sanders for a neck-and-neck electoral vote count.
But for most of her speech, which was peppered with cheers and chants from the friendly crowd, Clinton focused on criticizing Trump and the Republican Party for dividing Americans by doing things like calling for the deportation of Muslims, suggesting the building of a wall along the Mexican-U.S. border and for making sexist remarks about women.
"We are not going to let the Republicans turn us back and rip away the progress we have made," said Clinton who wore a leather jacket, as did her supporter Rep. Charles Rangel, the dean of the city's congressional delegation
"Can you deliver results? Can you make us safe? Can you bring our country together again?" Clinton said in describing the three most important qualities she feels the next president of the United states should have.
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Just as she did in her earlier Harlem speech, Clinton focused specifically on issues facing black voters, a demographic Sanders has had trouble winning over.
"We need a president who will help break down all of the barriers holding back Americans, not just some," said Clinton who cited gender pay inequality. "It's also important to take on racial inequality and discrimination," she added.
Clinton said she would also not be afraid to handle issues such as the economy as well as terrorism.
"Our next president has to be just as passionate about defending our people and our country as about fixing our economy. I will do both," Clinton said. "Because when you vote on April 19 here in New York your voting for a president and a commander-in-chief."
Joyce D. Diggs, a 66-year-old artist who lives in The Bronx, said she was pleased by the wide scope of Clinton's speech.
"She took on the economy, jobs, education, racism and solving problems, not creating them," she said.
