BARCELONETA, Puerto Rico, April 8 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton stumped for his wife 1,200 miles off the U.S. coast at a campaign rally in the farming town of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.
In what observers say may have been the first U.S. presidential campaign rally in Puerto Rican history, Clinton spoke to an audience in a university courtyard, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The U.S. commonwealth's Democratic primary June 1 will help determine 63 delegates -- more than the number awarded to 24 of the 50 states. About 2.5 million voters can participate in the primary, and Hillary Clinton and Democratic challenger Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois are expected to visit the island to woo them, the Post said.
Puerto Ricans cannot participate in the general election, so they will press their issues of better healthcare, higher wages and a determination of their status with the United States while they can.
Clinton supporter Kenneth McClintock, president of the Puerto Rican Senate and a superdelegate, said lots of policy questions will b asked.
"Puerto Ricans are smart voters. You can't talk down to us," McClintock said. "We know how democracy works. We do it better than you do, so you should follow our lead."
