P.E.I. MLA Darlene Compton attends 'history-making' Clinton rally
'It was a moment in history that I wanted to participate in'
Island PC MLA Darlene Compton attended a rally for U.S. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in Manchester, New Hampshire Sunday, saying she "wanted to be part of" an historic political moment.
As Americans go to the polls to elect a new president Tuesday, Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump have been involved in a flurry of last-minute campaigning.
They know how to do politics down here, there's no doubt about it!— Darlene Compton
"It was a moment in history that I wanted to participate in," the MLA for Belfast-Murray River told CBC News: Compass host Bruce Rainnie.
"She could be, potentially, the first female president of the United States of America. That's definitely history-making and I wanted to be part of it."
'Fairly low-key'
The venue was small, holding only about 1,800 people with a few hundred more outside, but Compton said the Democrats obviously spared no expense on the campaign.
"They know how to do politics down here, there's no doubt about it," said Compton, who took in the rally as part of a pleasure trip with relatives.
Compton and her relatives registered online for the rally and went through a metal detector, but other than that she said the event was "fairly low-key."
"I was actually surprised ... that there wasn't more security," said Compton.
Compton's aunt, a big Clinton fan, had her photo taken with Hillary, who also signed a book for her.
'Lifetime memory'
"It was definitely a lifetime memory for her," Compton said.
Compton's group plans to leave the States for home on voting day, "before things get too rowdy," she laughed.
The Republicans and Democrats have been fighting hard for New Hampshire, she said, noting Bernie Sanders was that state's choice in the Democratic primaries, while Trump was the state's number one pick out of a large field of Republican nominees.
Clinton enlisted the help of singer James Taylor in New Hampshire, the latest in a long list of A-list celebrities who've been stumping for her including Beyoncé and Katy Perry.
Watch Compass with host Bruce Rainnie weekdays from 6 to 7 p.m. on CBC Television.
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With files from Bruce Rainnie