Published: April 12, 2008 12:16 am         

Wabash Valley legislators throw support behind Hillary Clinton

CLINTON — Three Democratic state legislators have made their choice — Sen. Hillary Clinton for president.

Rep. Clyde Kersey and Sen. Tim Skinner, both of Terre Haute, and Rep. Vern Tincher of Riley are supporting the Democratic presidential hopeful, according to a Hillary for President news release.

Both Skinner and Kersey were at South Vermillion High School on Friday to hear former President Bill Clinton speak about why his wife should be president.

Before introducing the 42nd president at the rally, Skinner went over a few reasons as to why he is backing Hillary.

“I want our country to be healthy again, as I’m sure you do; I want working families to have the standard and quality of living that we had during the Clinton administration; and I want a president who has a vision for world peace,” he said to applause from the audience.

“I believe that Hillary Clinton can do those things and that she has the knowledge to step into the Oval Office on January 20 to be our president from the very first day,” he continued. “Folks, we don’t have time to train a new president. We don’t have time to lead someone around the White House by the hand until they are comfortable in their surroundings. We need a president who can turn our country around immediately, and Senator Clinton has already been there and helped do that.”

Though he was very passionate about his endorsement at the rally, Skinner said his decision didn’t come easily. He and his staff researched issues important to him, such as health care and education, to see where the candidates stand and made a decision from there.

Sen. Clinton’s experience also played a key factor in Tincher’s decision to endorse her, he said, along with the endorsement she had received from U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.

“I think we all have great respect for Evan,” Tincher said, “so that probably caused us to lean toward Senator Clinton, also.”

While Skinner said her Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, would make a good president, it’s just not yet. “I think Obama is a very bright guy, I think he has tremendous capabilities,” Skinner said after the Clinton rally.

Still, Obama’s push to the spotlight may have come too soon, he said, because he’s a great speaker.

“… I wish that he would have held off, become a little bit more seasoned as a senator, and then stepped up,” Skinner said. “I just think to toss him in there now, I just don’t know that he’s ready.”

Having Bill for a husband doesn’t hurt Hillary’s chances either, Skinner said, adding that if Hillary were elected, it would be like “getting two for the price of one.”

“We had a guy that did a good job with the economy and despite any negatives about Bill Clinton, I want to tell you, I’d go back to those days in a heartbeat compared to the mess that we’re in right now,” he said. “And I know that he would be a tremendous asset to her and to the country.”

Joining local legislators’ names on the Clinton endorsement list are eight other state senators, 12 state representatives and Speaker of the House Patrick Bauer of South Bend. Kersey could not be reached for comment.

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.