Politics

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ― Just one day after sparring with primary opponent Barack Obama in the final debate before the Super Tuesday voting, Hillary Clinton brought her presidential campaign to the Bay Area Friday.
 
Voter turnout was the key topic Clinton wanted to address in front of 4,200 supporters who turned out to see her in Downtown San Jose.

Unlike other appearances this week where she concentrated on giving her stump speech, she focused her San Jose event with a plea for strong turnout on Tuesday.

"Are you ready to go to the polls and make sure your votes and voices are counted?" Clinton asked her supporters. "We're going to call a million Californians over the weekend. We want to make sure every single voter is touched."

Clinton also talked about how the Democratic nominee, either herself or Obama, will make history.

"Wasn't it exciting to know that one of the two people on that stage (at Thursday's debate) will be the next President of the United States?" Clinton said. "No matter what happens, I want every one of you with a child or a precious grandchild...to look into their eyes and tell them you can be whatever you want in America."

Later, Clinton made another campaign stop at the historic Orpheum Theater in San Francisco, drumming up more support. Appearing alongside was Mayor Gavin Newsom, who had previously endorsed Clinton.

The New York senator held double-digit leads in past California polls, but public opinion research company Rasmussen Reports said that their latest numbers indicated her lead had shrunk to just 3 percent -- 43 percent versus 40 percent of likely voters for Obama.

Clinton spoke with CBS 5 Political Editor Hank Plante Friday about the recent developments leading up to Super Tuesday.

Also Friday, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy cast Barack Obama as political heir to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. during a stop in Oakland.

Kennedy, growling and roaring from the pulpit of Beebe Memorial Cathedral, reminded hundreds of mostly black and Hispanic audience of the accomplishments of the 1960s: civil rights for minorities, women and the disabled.

He invoked King's name repeatedly, but never his brother's.  Still, it was clear that the Massachusetts senator sought to portray Obama as the leader who could carry the King-Kennedy torch forward.

Just as John F. Kennedy had famously summoned Americans to ask what they could do for their country, Kennedy said, "Barack Obama is going to ask this generation, and ask you, and you, and you, to do something for your country," Kennedy said. "And I'll tell you, I'll bet you're ready to do something for your country."

Kennedy said the nation was permanently reshaped by "all those ripples that Dr. King started."

"Now, my friends, we have a unique opportunity to continue that long march and continue the progress here in the United States of America by electing someone who can electrify this nation and get us back to the march of progress ... and his name is Barack Obama."

Kennedy left both his usual Washington voice and wardrobe behind. Here, he wore a black shirt underneath a black tie, with a red handkerchief.

He drew his biggest roar when he asked his audience: "One year from now, do you know where we'll be? We will be here in the United States without George Bush being president!"

Kennedy's stop was one of two in California on behalf of Obama on Friday. He also campaigned at East Los Angeles College.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)