Hillary Clinton Finally Campaigns on Climate, with Al Gore at Her Side

In Florida, the state facing sea level rise's wrath and a crucial electoral swing state, the pair warns that Donald Trump's climate denial will be disastrous.

For her first speech of the fall campaign focused exclusively on climate change, Hillary Clinton went to Florida, the state at greatest risk from sea level rise, and one of the tightest and most consequential swing states in this presidential election.

She brought with her to Florida a man she knew could amplify her message on both scores: former Vice President Al Gore.  But at times, she almost sounded like she could out-Gore someone whose voice on climate change has echoed in politics for decades.

"Climate change is real, it's urgent and America can take the lead in the world in addressing it," Clinton said.  "We can develop new clean energy solutions.  We can transform our economy. We can rally the world to cut carbon pollution.  And we can fulfill our moral obligation to protect this this planet for our children and our grandchildren."

And as if she sensed a political opportunity like rising wind and waves, she broadened the fight beyond her contest with Donald Trump, a climate change infidel, to take on others of his ilk.

Her campaign rolled out a new ad earlier in the day that began with a montage of Trump's statements dismissing climate change.  Clinton urged the crowd to reject not just his views that the whole issue was a "hoax," but to go after like-minded Florida politicians, including Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio.

"It needs to be a voting issue," she said.  "Select people people up and down the ballot who take climate change seriously.  We cannot keep sending climate deniers to the statehouses and Congress, and certainly not to the White House."

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