While it was not technically a campaign speech, Hillary Clinton gave a forceful address at a women's conference in Manhattan Thursday night, but the Democratic presidential hopeful did not speak to the growing controversy over foreign donations to her family foundation. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.
Her first big campaign speech is not expected until next month, but Hillary Clinton gave voters a preview of what's to come when she spoke at the Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center Thursday.
"I wanted to be here regardless of what else I was doing," Clinton said.
Clinton peppered her speech with talk of her new granddaughter, Charlotte, and anecdotes freshly collected from the campaign trail. She sounded optimistic about the future of women and girls, as well as her own bid for the White House.
"Every one of you proves that no matter who you are or where you come from, you, too, can be a champion for change," she said. "It doesn't matter whether you're a student, an artist, a journalist, an ambassador, maybe even a future president. We all have our stories."
On family leave and the wage gap between men and women in the workplace, Clinton was defiant.
"It's hard to believe that in 2015, so many women still pay a price for being mothers. It is also hard to believe that so many women are still paid less than men for the same work," she said.
Not surprisingly, Clinton's speech did not touch on the fundraising questions swirling around her campaign. Several reports and an upcoming book are drawing connections between foreign donors to the Clinton Foundation and her work as secretary of state. Clinton's campaign has dismissed the allegations, saying any suggestion of wrongdoing is baseless.
Earlier in the day, top Clinton aides met behind closed doors with potential donors to talk about their plans.
"There has to be an emphasis on getting the big tent and getting many, many, many small donations," said one Hillary Clinton supporter.
Clinton herself will be appearing at a fundraiser in the city next week.