(Photo: Nicole Disser)
Hillary Clinton fans, young and old, wrapped around four blocks in Union Square this morning, waiting for what one called a “historic moment” — a book signing at Barnes & Noble by their hero, the pantsuited pol who claims she hasn’t yet made up her mind about running for president.
(Photo: Mary Reinholz)
“She’s one of the smartest politicians I can think of,” said Brian, a yoga instructor from Manhattan. “I think she’ll work across the party lines.”
Some of the Hillary Clinton partisans had spent the night on concrete, including a man from New Jersey who slept outside the bookstore with his entire family. Several students pulled all-nighters, too: 19-year-old Hana Karmal said simply, “It’s time for a woman in the White House.”
Lynn Haude, a retiree who lives on Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street, arrived in a motorized chair, observing pithily, “She’s ballsy!” and wondering if the gathering crowd “could fit in the book store.”
(Photo: Mary Reinholz)
There was also a “Ready for Hillary” bus parked in the Northern Pavilion showing that picture of the former Secretary of state in her badass shades, courtesy of a Ready for Hillary PAC from McClean, Virginia. Seth Bringman, communications director of the PAC, said the bus was simply traveling with her national book tour, “but we haven’t spoken personally to Mrs. Clinton.” Just another supporter, you could say.
Across the street from the bookstore, a 46-year-old Afghanistan vet said he came from upstate to hold up a sign attacking Hillary on Benghazi, among other things.
A silver-haired dude in bermudas, who identified himself as a Vietnam vet, stood outside the store, telling those in line this reporter that Hillary “snuck in the back door so she wouldn’t have to meet critics like me.”
(Photo: Nicole Disser)