WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton trekked to Capitol Hill Tuesday to meet with Democrats in both chambers and pitch her policy stances four months into her 2016 campaign.
Clinton met with Senate Democrats during their weekly party lunches, and was warmly welcomed by the party's leaders.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) praised the presentation Clinton gave to the conference.
“She got several rounds of standing applause,” Reid told reporters after the meeting. “She talked about climate change, about what families need in America today. She talked about how important it was that we make sure that we understand America is more than the urban centers of our country.”
He added, that he was “extremely impressed” by her answers to questions senators asked, and noted that she also talked about the nuclear deal President Barack Obama worked out with Iran and five other negotiating partners on Tuesday.
Clinton told Democrats that she worked on the deal "a lot" herself, and advised them to wait and find out exactly what is in the agreement before passing judgment.
Reid wouldn’t say if he supports the former secretary of state's presidential bid. Clinton is considered the frontrunner but faces four Democratic challengers in the primary, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“I’ve chosen not to endorse her right now -- that’s the way it is,” Reid said. “Everyone knows what a fan I am of her and her husband, and I’m sure at the right time I’ll make the right decision.”
Clinton may have been met warmly by the majority of Democrats in the caucus, but Sanders tried to steal the show when he exited the meeting ahead of other senators and held a presser of his own in the hallway outside the Senate chamber, which is typically reserved for Senate leadership.
Sanders spent about six minutes laying out where he disagrees with Clinton on a variety of issues.
“I very much look forward in this campaign to a very serious debate about the serious crises facing our country,” Sanders told reporters. “Secretary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues; there are issues where we come from the same place.”
Reid said he has invited Sanders to speak before the caucus as well and expects Sanders to make a presentation in the next few weeks.
Clinton met with House Democrats earlier Tuesday and also separately with the Congressional Black Caucus, during which time she discussed issues affecting the African-American community in the U.S.
"Today's policy meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was a constructive meeting where members of the Congressional Black Caucus discussed a myriad of issues that include persistent poverty, the need for criminal justice reform, transportation and infrastructure, economic growth and opportunity, and access to a quality education,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), who chairs the CBC.
Clinton also met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Members said the former first lady requested to hear about issues facing the Hispanic community.
In the meeting, Clinton talked about the economy, immigration reform, health care, the wage gap and the need for an inclusive workforce, according to a readout of the meeting from the caucus.
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