It’s estimated that 100 million people tuned into Monday night’s presidential debate hosted by Hofstra University in New York, including hundreds here in the Hub City.
Community members tuned in either at their own homes, on their smart phones, at their laptops, and even at some watch parties throughout town. Businesses and even homeowners opened their doors to West Texas republicans and democrats as they rally for their candidate.
One watch party hosted by a Lubbock homeowner and the West Texas for Hillary group invited community members to watch the debate together over a potluck dinner.
“She [Clinton] has eight years as a senator, then her years a secretary of state. There has never been a person that has been as prepared to be Commander in Chief as she is. Her competition is not even on the same map,” said Susan Barrick, Senate District Committee Woman for the Democratic Party in Senate District 28. “She has such tremendous knowledge and strength of character.”
“We know she’s going to win, we know she’s the candidate,” said Stuart Williams, coordinator for West Texas for Hillary group. “Hillary Clinton’s a fighter, she’s a person who doesn’t give up. She’s there to say what she wants to do for our country and be a positive force instead of a force for fear, division and hate.”
Premiere Cinemas over at the South Plains Mall also housed another watch party on the big screen, this one by West Texas Republicans.
“I think he’s unpredictable, I think he’s energized a group of people that we don’t know how to really campaign to and how to get to and he’s figured out how to do that,” said Steve Evans, chairman of the Lubbock County Republican Party before the debate. ‘It’s exciting to watch that, but I am interested in seeing him evolve a little bit, seeing him be a little more presidential, if you will.”
“People know that there’s a big election ahead of us, big choices, and they couldn’t be more sincere to make sure they make the right choice,” said Dustin Burrows, State Representative House District 83, in response to the crowd that made their way to the movie theater Monday night. “I think he’s probably going to win this election, but at the end of the day, I just think Hillary Clinton would be a disaster of a president.”
As a reminder to our voters, Election Day is November 8, however the last day to register to vote is October 11.
For more details, please visit http://www.votelubbock.org/
