Hillary Clinton Talks Immigration, Housing In Kansas City

Last Edited: Friday, 05 Oct 2007, 5:55 PM CDT
Created: Friday, 05 Oct 2007, 5:39 AM CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Democratic Presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton made her second trip to Kansas City in less than a month. Friday's visit was as much about raising money as it was to campaign and connect with voters.

Clinton is heading home with somewhere between $250-300,000 in her pocket from Kansas City area voters who want to see her become President.

A crowd of nearly 300 people were waiting for Clinton at the President Hotel in downtown Kansas City. Supporters paid from $500 to more than $1,000 to hear her speak.

With Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver and clergy from across the state by her side, she spoke on a variety of issues.

"I think we need to get the people who are here out of the shadows and the way you do that is to offer a path to legalization. They should have to pay a fine. They should have to pay back taxes, learn English and they should wait in line," Clinton said.

She also spoke about the mortgage crisis.

"We have to step in and try and figure out a way for people to stay in their homes. Maybe they could be given a time out period. Maybe they could be give an opportunity to rent their homes," she said.

Clinton also addressed naysayers who think she can't win in Missouri, saying she heard the same talk when she ran for Senate in New York.

"I carried 40 of the counties that President Bush carried in New York," Clinton said.

Afterwards, 100 clergy held a private meeting with Clinton.

It's an image Clinton is hoping more people will buy into. Senator Clinton even had something nice to say about President Bush. She said she admired him for using his father and her husband as goodwill ambassadors in the aftermath of Indonesia's tsunami.

Linda Wagar, FOX 4 News

www.myfoxkc.com