WESTLAND, Mich. - Thousands of suburban Detroiters greeted President Clinton yesterday as he stopped to campaign with Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) on his tour of Midwestern states.
Clinton greeted cheering crowds at Ypsilanti's Willow Run Airport, then traveled to Westland for a tour of facilities at the William D. Ford Vocational and Technical Center and to address the thousands of supporters gathered at a rally at John Glenn High School.
Themes of economic and educational opportunity and unity were touted by all the rally's speakers, including Clinton.
"I want every American, without regard to age to live up to their potential," he said. "We're preparing America's workers for the 21st century."
Fremon Hendrix, director for the Clinton/Gore campaign in Michigan, said Clinton believes the state will play an integral role in the election.
"Today is a clear example of how important he thinks western Wayne County is, to come to a city like Westland where you've got working-class people, blue-collar folks that have never had the privilege of a visit from a president," he said. "I think to have him here today speaks volumes about how important he thinks Michigan is."
Before the rally, students demonstrated high-tech computer-aided manufacturing equipment for the president. Clinton discussed options for vocational education, such as the center offers, in his speech. He said he would like the federal government to provide a $2,500 skills grant to citizens desiring vocational education. He also called for increased respect for the field.
"We need to tear down the wall between what is academic and what is vocational," Clinton said. "(The students' demonstration) was mind work, it was smart work.
"We need a seamless web of people moving from school to work," he said.
Rivers, who attended a culinary arts school after high school, said she strongly supports Clinton's education initiatives. She said vocational education was tremendously beneficial for her. "It kept the wolf from our door," she said.
Clinton said all educational arenas must be strengthened for the nation to be successful in the next century. He said his education plan provides for every American child to be able to read on their own by age 8, to have access to the Internet by age 12 and to be able to afford at least two years of college at age 18.
The president cited his proposed $1,500 per year tax credit as the main means for making college, at least community college, affordable. The credit would be applicable to people in their first two years of undergraduate education.
"Bill Clinton has made education his number-one priority," Rivers said.
Clinton credited Democrats with effecting positive changes for the country in the last four years, including job growth, lower unemployment rates and an ever-decreasing federal deficit.
Hendrix was confident about Clinton's ability to carry Michigan on Nov. 5. "He's doing good. I mean, if you look at the polls you can see that his message of opportunity and responsibility is resonating," Hendrix said. "I think people in Michigan are especially connected with him and I think a lot of that has to do with the economy and his strong position on education."
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
President Clinton shakes hands in a crowd of supporters at a campaign stop Westland, Mich., yesterday. Clinton talked about economic issues to a crowd of several thousand during his second visit to the state in the past month.