SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- New York Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton spoke in San Francisco today at a sold-out, lunch fundraiser.
Clinton received a warm welcome of applause as she stepped up to the stage at the Sheraton Palace Hotel before a crowd of about 900 people.
KCBS' Margie Shafer, who attended the luncheon, reports the popular senator spoke about a wide range of issues during the half-hour presentation, including health care, education, energy policy, and Iraq.
But “Code Pink” anti-war protestors, a women-initiated grassroots organization, briefly interrupted the event. The small group of activists, who carried signs that read "Stop The War", heckled Senator Clinton as police quickly escorted them outside.
Sen. Clinton, former First Lady of the White House and no stranger to the public sector, fielded questions from the audience in true political fashion.
When asked if she thought a woman could be elected President in the United States, Clinton called on the legacy of California political heavyweights Sen. Dianne Feinstein, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Sen. Barbara Boxer as examples of trailblazing women who have already been elected.
Clinton’s visit comes after she make a series of fundraising stops in Los Angeles. Today’s $250-a-head luncheon was by longtime backer Susie Tompkins Buell, developer Walter Shorenstein and the group Emily's List.
Clinton has always enjoyed strong support from the Bay Area but now that the junior senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, has joined the primary race, Democratic loyalties are being tested.
"They're jockeying for position at the front of the ticket," said KCBS political analyst Joe Tuman.
Tuman said he’s not surprised by the war of words that broke out between the two factions this week, sparked by a Clinton backer’s defection to the Obama camp. He advises Obama to brace himself for one of the nastiest parts of politics.
"If he wants to survive this he's going to have to be just as dirty as she is," he said.
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