Possible presidential candidate Hillary Clinton couldn't gush enough Friday about bank-bashing Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren – whose own
liberal fans hope will mount a White House run – praising the lawmaker for going after "those who deserve" it.
"I am so pleased to be here with your senior senator, the passionate champion for working people and middle-class families, Elizabeth Warren!" Clinton exclaimed at a rally for struggling Bay State gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley,
Politico reports.
"I love watching Elizabeth give it to those who deserve to get it."
Yet in her own speech prior to Clinton's, Warren didn't hug back, tossing a lukewarm welcome to the former Secretary of State and popular surrogate before launching into her now familiar blast at special interests,
CNN reports.
"Happy to welcome Secretary Clinton back to the commonwealth," Warren said to a fired-up crowd. "We love it!"
Clinton's effusive praise of Warren – and unabashed anti-trickle-down economic speech in which she declared, "Don’t let anybody tell you that it’s corporations and businesses that create jobs" — had some speculating she was trying hard to embrace the populist rhetoric Warren is known for, Politico reports.
In her speech, Warren used the phrase "big banks" at least four times, Politico reports.
The rally for Coakley at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston was one of three stops Clinton scheduled to help gubernatorial candidates, including events in Maine and Rhode Island.
As she wrapped up her comments in Boston, Clinton said she and Warren had traded stories about their grandchildren, Politico reports.
"I was trying to keep up," Clinton joked, referring to her newborn granddaughter, Charlotte, and saying she listened to talk about kids dressing for Halloween, Politico reports.
"We’re not gonna be doing that," Clinton laughed. "But as I was standing there, and looking on the smile on Elizabeth’s face describing her grandchildren … when it all is said and done, that’s what it’s supposed to be about."