35°
Clinton, who has lived in the Chappaqua hamlet of the town of New Castle since 1999, took time off to march in the local Memorial Day parade, which she has done for years. She was joined by her husband, former President Bill Clinton; Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who lives in the northern side of New Castle; as well as State Assemblyman David Buchwald and members of the local town board.
Away from the stump speeches and headlines, coming home afforded Clinton a chance to be at ease and away from the relative pressures of the trail. Clinton, who lined up for the parade at Ridgewood Terrace, made small talk with fellow residents.
“We were at Greeley," she said to a community member in one conversation, an apparent reference to her visit last month to Horace Greeley High School.
Clinton also embraced Jim McCauley, a resident and Vietnam War veteran who has emceed the local parade for years.
Clinton's friendship with McCauley, who is involved in local Republican politics, is a marked contrast from the partisanship of federal politics, where the former first lady and U.S. senator is often a lightning rod for the other side of the spectrum.
“Good to see you," McCauley told Clinton. "Thank you again for coming.”
Clinton also urged the crowd to follow McCauley's instructions to line up for the parade.
“Listen to the captain!” she shouted.
Clinton's participation in the parade comes as the Democratic presidential primary season winds down. Only a handful of states, most notably delegate-rich California and New Jersey, remain in contention before the nominating season wrap up on June 14, according to a tracker from The Huffington Post.
Clinton is close to clinching the Democratic nomination, according to delegate trackers posted by various media outlets.
Clinton remains locked in a heated primary battle with her party rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, while also fighting presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. In Chappaqua, however, the parade served as a de facto campaign rally, as scores of supporters cheered or sported memorabilia with Clinton's campaign logo. Only a single man with a Trump campaign sign was spotted, while no Sanders signs were visible.
A large press scrum on hand to cover Clinton was met with the candidate's large entourage of campaign workers and Secret Service agents. As members of the press tried to get take images, members of Clinton's side tried to keep them from getting too close, which was a constant tension throughout the parade.
The parade went down the King Street hill before proceeding along South Greeley Avenue, which is right in the middle of downtown Chappaqua. The parade subsequently concluded at the war memorial plaza in front of the Chappaqua train station, where the annual Memorial Day service was held. The Clintons attended the service before departing.
A photo gallery of Clinton's march is attached to this story. Daily Voice will also have a standalone story dedicated to the ceremony.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahopac and receive free news updates.
