Clinton said that she is going to "take a scalpel to the United States tax code" and take out any benefits companies receive for taking jobs to other countries.

"We are going to use our money to create jobs right here in Erie," she said.

She continued on the theme by talking about what she sees as a problem in the tax code -- that wealthy people pay smaller portions of their total income than blue collar workers. She promised $100 million in tax cuts to the middle class, which was met with cheers.

Clinton, throughout the campaign, has developed a working-class persona -- an image that plays well with this crowd.

Chicago Tribune correspondent Jim Tankersley wrote Monday that:

[Voters, analysts and political strategists] say a range of strategies has won Clinton working-class backing: her focus on economic problems and solutions, the clarity of her speeches, and a personal story of trial and survival that, in its own way, hits home with many voters suffering financially this year.

To be sure, it's not unusual for wealthy Democratic candidates to develop this working-class base with great effect, Tankersley wrote -- just look at two of our more popular wealthy Democratic presidents (with easily abbreviated names): FDR and JFK.

(By the way, Obama's latest effort to appeal to blue-collar workers? Bowling in Altoona.)

-- Cody Switzer