"This is the equivalent of the space race," Clinton said of the effort to build up the nation's green industry. "This is what we did 40 years ago and it generated all these new jobs and wealth."
Clinton's event was a sharp contrast to the highly attended rallies organized by Obama yesterday, including one in downtown Baltimore. On Sunday, Clinton spoke at a rally attended by thousands at Bowie State University.
Yesterday afternoon, Clinton spoke to a University of Virginia political science class. Hundreds of students lined up outside the building before the event, and a small group screamed her name and waved as she stepped out of her motorcade.
Instead of giving a speech, Clinton spent more than an hour answering questions on biofuel, universal health care, religion, embryonic stem cell research and her significance as a woman running for president.
One of her most fiery moments came in response to a question about a piece by conservative columnist George Will on her and her husband's political tactics. In response, Clinton said she knew how to win an election against Republicans.
"I know what it will take for any Democrat to win," she said. "I don't expect Republicans to give up the White House without a vigorous fight."
Sean Conway, a 25-year-old law student from New York who carried a Clinton campaign sign, said the speech reinforced his belief that Clinton is the most qualified presidential candidate.
Referring to one of Obama's campaign themes, he added, "If you look at this notion of change, it's more of a campaign strategy than any actual platform that can be used in the White House."
But Clinton was also hounded by questions yesterday about her campaign, which has faced a rocky few days. She lent her campaign $5 million - a move, she said, that spurred millions of dollars in new donations - and her campaign manager resigned.
She brushed aside concerns last night that her campaign was in trouble during an interview on WJLA-7 in Washington in a time slot that had originally been planned for a debate between her and Obama.
"I've been around a long time. Sometimes you're up. Sometimes you're down," she said. "We're winning the states we have to win. The big states are really going to determine whether Democrats win."
john.fritze@baltsun.com josh.mitchell@baltsun.com
Sun reporter David Nitkin contributed to this article.
