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Hillary Clinton Champions Women, Attacks Trump, In Pasco County

Hillary Clinton spoke before several hundred people Tuesday afternoon outside of the Pasco-Hernando State College campus near Dade City.

Her speech focused on why Donald Trump is unfit to be president. That he doesn't respect women. Why he shouldn't have his finger on the nuclear button.

"For America, this is one of those make-or-break elections. It really is in your hands," she said. "And I hope you will think about how you will feel the day after the election, on Nov. 9.  Are we going to go forward together or are we going to be pulled backwards by someone who wants to bully us?"

Clinton was introduced by former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who spoke about being ridiculed by the pageant's owner, Trump, for being overweight. Clinton said that illustrates how Trump really feels about women.

"He is wrong about both the women and the men of this country," Clinton said. "He has shown us who he is. Let us show him on Tuesday who we are."

This comes only a week after she spoke in downtown Tampa.

Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, spoke hours later in South St. Petersburg. And with Vice President Joe Biden speaking in Tampa Wednesday, it shows the importance the Clinton campaign is placing on the Tampa Bay Area.

"Florida can decide who our next president is," she said, "which will affect the nation and the world."

One of the people seeing her - for the first time - was Patricia Clower of Dade City.

"I believe she's more qualified. I think that she's the better of the two," Clower said. "The guy (Trump) doesn't make no sense. He doesn't tell us what he's going to do, he just tells us what she hasn't done. I'm not with that. I'm not with that. Show me what you got so I could vote for you - but he doesn't."

Clower said she's just as much turned off by Trump as she is receptive to Clinton's message.

"When I saw the Republican convention, it hurt my heart - I had to turn it off. I couldn't believe all the negative stuff," she said. "You know, I'm a third-generation American, and I know our country didn't get where it's at by taking like that. We're united."

Credit Daylina Miller / WUSF News
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WUSF News

Clower said she was motivated by Clinton's speech to knock on people's doors and work to get out the vote. That would be her first time volunteering for a campaign.

Independent voter Luis Calvo of Dade City, said he continues to believe Clinton is a better choice than  Trump for the presidency.

"Other people might comment that she's a liar and other bad stuff about her," he said. "I don't believe so."

Calvo said he has not heard anything from Trump that would sway his vote.

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