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LIVE UPDATES: Former President Bill Clinton campaigns for Kamala Harris in Butler County

Former President Bill Clinton speaks at Steamfitters Local 449 in Jackson Township in support of the Harris-Walz campaign. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle
Event in Jackson Township
3:58 p.m. Former President Bill Clinton finishes speaking

Former President Bill Clinton has finished his talk at Steamfitters Local 449 in Jackson Township, where he spoke to a few hundred people in support of the Harris-Walz campaign.

“I really believe Kamala Harris will be a fine president,” he said. “I’m stunned by how quickly she’s grown into this.”

He also said, despite what some of her critics say, Harris offers far more detail on policy than Trump.

3:34 p.m. Former President Bill Clinton takes the stage

Former President Bill Clinton has taken the stage to speak in support of the Harris-Walz ticket.

To a crowd of about 200 people, he said he’s focused on the future.

“I’m campaigning for my grandchildren’s future,” he said. “And your children and grandchildren.”

He said division is hurting the country and praised the union movement for its focus on solidarity.

Clinton talked about what he termed inclusive prosperity, where the middle class grows. He said not to resent the success of others, as long as poor people have a chance to get ahead.

He criticized former President Donald Trump as “the biggest blamer and the biggest bragger I’ve ever seen,” and said Trump takes credit for economic success that happened because of the Barack Obama administration.

Clinton also praised the work of President Joe Biden.

“We needed the infrastructure bill bad,” he said. “Biden delivered. Trump didn’t.”

He criticized corporate greed as a driver of rising costs, and said something has to be done about the cost of groceries and other necessities.

He said Harris understands the need for a federal price gouging law.

Sen. John Fetterman speaks at a rally for Kamala Harris. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eage
3:30 p.m. Sen. John Fetterman speaking

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is onstage to introduce former President Bill Clinton.

“Pennsylvania picks the president,” he said.

The crowd inside Steamfitters Local 449 as they wait for former President Bill Clinton to speak on Saturday, Nov. 2. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle
3:25 p.m. Kenny Broadbent onstage

Kenny Broadbent, business manager for Steamfitters Local 449, said he’s fired up about this election.

“This election is about jobs,” he said.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is up next, and he will introduce former President Bill Clinton.

3:03 p.m. State Sen. Jay Costa speaking

State Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa is speaking.

“This is the most consequential election of our lifetime,” he said.

Costa and previous speaker Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel offered similar messages: It’s important to elect Kalama Harris President, to re-elect Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and to elect Democrats to Congress.

Costa thanked labor union members for their presence and said Trump would roll back labor rights, as well as harm the environment, weaken reproductive rights and more.

2:58 p.m. Kevin Boozel onstage

County Commissioner Kevin Boozel is speaking.

He called former President Donald Trump unfit to be president, and said it’s difficult to be a Democrat in a red county, but that work has to continue over the next several days to elect Kamala Harris.

2:49 p.m. Catherine LaLonde onstage

Catherine LaLonde, chairwoman of the Butler County Democratic Party is speaking.

“More Democrats are coming out of the woodwok and speaking out, so that is great,” she said to the crowd.

2:15 p.m. People coming in

The doors have opened and people are filing into Steamfitters Local 449 in Jackson Township for a rally headlined by former President Bill Clinton in support of the Harris-Walz campaign.

The crowd is evenly split between people in Harris-Walz gear and Steamfitters gear. Ages range from children to retirees.

Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel is in the crowd talking with people. Clinton is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m.

People start to enter Steamfitters Local 449 for a rally for the Harris-Walz campaign headlined by former President Bill Clinton on Saturday, Nov. 2. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle
Former President Bill Clinton campaigns for Kamala Harris in Butler County

Former President Bill Clinton will be part of an event for the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign in Butler County starting at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2.

The visit is part of a “Opportunity Economy event” the campaign is holding, with a stop in Erie the same day before he visits a volunteer appreciation event with the Steamfitters Local 449 in Jackson Township as part of get-out-the-vote efforts here in Butler County.

People wait in line outside Steamfitters Local 449 in Jackson Township to hear Bill Clinton speak in support of the Harris-Walz campaign on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

According to a news release from the Harris-Walz campaign, Clinton will be discussing policies surrounding lower costs and cutting taxes, as well as criticizing Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, and the Project 2025 agenda.

“With just three days until Election Day, speakers will underscore the contrast between the closing arguments for the two candidates,” the Harris-Walz campaign said in a news release.

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