Former Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis said Friday that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's political history and platform provides a clear contrast to her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
Davis, who spoke in front of Ohio University's Class Gateway, arrived on campus just before 11:00 a.m., greeted by a group of at least 20 supporters.
“(Clinton) has been fighting for women and families, and she has an agenda that is inclusive of the concerns of every American,” Davis said.
Sam Miller, president of the Ohio University College Democrats, introduced Davis. Miller said Davis serves as an example of one of the strong women she has always looked up to who have showed her how to lead and referred to her as a fellow “nasty woman.” The phrase was a reference to a comment Trump made in the third presidential debate.
Davis referred to her successful filibuster against a 2013 Texas bill that would have restricted access to abortions. She said that filibuster was successful because it encouraged people to show up at the state capitol and voice their opinions. She encouraged OU students and Athens residents to do the same by showing up to the polls.
“Three years ago, when we conducted a filibuster, people came by the thousands to the Texas capitol, and that’s very unusual for us,” Davis said.
Davis said Athens reminded her of Austin, Texas — a “bastion" of progressivism in the midst of a more conservative environment. Davis, who has visited more than 20 states to campaign for Clinton, said her support for Clinton stemmed from her experiences as a young woman.
Growing up Davis was faced with poverty, she said she dreamed of becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. But then she found out she was pregnant, she said. Davis was able to still pursue her education by attending community college before attending Texas Christian University and later graduating from Harvard Law School.
She said Clinton's stance on free community college would help other students pursue their education as well.
Davis said affordable child care was another plank of Clinton's platform that spoke to her. She said help from friends and family allowed her to find adequate care when she needed it.
“If you cannot afford to put a child in child care, then you absolutely have a concrete ceiling over your head,” Davis said.
Davis also spoke about Planned Parenthood and applauded Clinton for her defense of reproductive rights during the third presidential debate. Davis said she received quality care from Planned Parenthood, which helped her prevent a second unplanned pregnancy and end up where she is today.
“I had the only health care I knew for several years at a Planned Parenthood clinic,” Davis said.
Sarah Grace, the Democratic candidate to represent Ohio’s 94th district at the statehouse, said Davis’ focus on issues such as affordable child care, which is also a part of Clinton’s campaign spoke to her as a mother who understands that challenge.
“I thought it was inspiring and she mentioned a lot of issues that I really believe in and support,” Grace said.
Miller said many of the points Davis emphasized were issues that particularly mattered to women and college students.
“I think she really let college students know just how important this election is for us,” Miller said. “There are so many issues affecting women on the ballot that we cannot stand aside and just let Donald Trump take the White House. We have to fight until the very last poll closes on November 8.”
