The candidates have so far spent most of their time on the coasts and barely addressing issues central to the heartland. So I wanted to spotlight an excellent interview from Montana Public Radio’s Sally Mauk. She grabbed Clinton after a rally and in 8 minutes asked three key questions for Western states: coal, forest management, and tribal issues.
Coal is her most salient position–trying to blend energy independence, economic concerns, with the environmental core of the Democratic party. In the interview Clinton says, yes, she supports a moratorium on new coal plants. In another interview with West Virgina Public Radio, Clinton ducks and dodges questions of mountaintop removal.
Don’t know for sure, but I wonder how friendly Clinton is to coal staters. But I bet newsrooms out there can find the answer. Go to coal mines, steel plants, environmentalists, and everyday energy users and ask them the questions Clinton wouldn’t answer.
And if you do a story, post it to PRX! Here’s some other resources to help out: