We asked 8 women how America will change if Hillary Clinton is elected president

Ms Clinton made a campaign stop at an historically black college in Brooklyn

Hillary Clinton steps to the podium as she is introduced to an room of excited supporters AP

Hillary Clinton appeared before an enthusiastic audience at a Brooklyn college, where she looked to solidify her favour — and lead — amongst black and women voters ahead of the New York state primaries.

The event began roughly 40 minutes late, but that did not dampen cheers from the crowd as Ms Clinton took the stage in the Medgar Evers College gymnasium. The former secretary of state has a commanding lead over rival Bernie Sanders in New York polls, and as the 19 April primaries quickly approach, Ms Clinton needs a decisive victory in the Empire State.

Ms Clinton, 68, delivered her standard stump speech, where she embraced the successes of the Obama Administration, the policies of which she promised to uphold and expand if elected.

“I don’t think president Obama gets the credit he deserves,” she said to a swell of applause and cheers from the mostly-black audience. “Everything he did was against a wall of implacable hostility from the Republicans.”

But she insisted that she has the experience and follow through to get her policies through Congress. “Can you produce positive results in people’s lives — don’t just talk about it, but actually deliver,” she said, taking a pointed jab at Mr Sanders.

Ms Clinton remarked on the top Republican contenders, Texas senator Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump, calling out their “shameful,” “offensive,” and “dangerous” rhetoric — particularly as it pertains to Muslims and women’s reproductive health.

On Mr Trump’s remarks to punish women who have abortions, which he later backtracked, Ms Clinton said the former reality TV star was simply saying aloud the common Republican stance on the matter.

“He is saying what all of them believe,” she proclaimed. “He just committed the sin of actually telling people what they think.”

Ms Clinton, joined by Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clark and the First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray, also called for ending the era of mass incarceration, applauding criminal justice reforms made by the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Hillary Clinton speaks to a full house in the Medgar Evers College gymnasium AP

Attendees were spread across the age spectrum, some students at the Historically Black college, while others were much older, and predominantly female.

Tiffany Reid, 33, said she believed Ms Clinton was the right choice for the White House because of the experience she brings with her. “She was the First Lady, so she has a lot of insight. She was the Secretary [of State],” she said. “She has a lot of insight when it comes to the government. She worked there, she’s been there for many years.”

One supporter, 45, who requested to go by the initial K., felt it was important the the former secretary of state would continue the “forward march” of the Obama Administration. “Not to mention the psychological effect of having a woman in the White House,” she added, calling back to a moment from Ms Clinton’s speech conveying the sentiment that anything will be possible for women if she’s elected.

Standing beside K., Hyonsu, 45, agreed adding that Ms Clinton is simply the best candidate. “I think she brings a realistic vision of change to the country,” she said. “And I’ve been following her since high school!”

Mari Tomunen, 25, a law firm intern from Finland, said that while she cannot vote in the upcoming election, she has been a strong supporter of Ms Clinton for some time. “[She’s] breaking the biggest glass ceiling there is, so in the next election nobody has to talk about who is a woman and who is a man,” she said. “In fact, all of the girls in China and in Finland and in Indonesia can wake up in the morning and think, ‘I can be anything I want'.”

Lisa Diller, 55, joked that it was predictable that she, a middle-aged white woman, was voting for Ms Clinton. She felt, however, that this election was not just about women’s issues, it was about the pragmatism of her candidate. “She’s the only one who digs into policy in a realistic way,” she said. “I like what Bernie is doing to push her more progressive, but I can’t afford to pay the taxes for Bernie’s plans. I don’t think he’s going to be able to fight his way through Congress.”

Yael Sebag, 32, is planning on becoming a US citizen in time to vote for Ms Clinton. Born in France, but of Israeli descent, she believes the former Secretary will improve the global impression of the US — a job that she said Mr Obama started, but there is still work to be done. “We, the Western world, are backwards. We still haven’t had a woman as a president. Look at Brazil, look at Myanmar,” she said. “I think women will benefit from [a Clinton presidency], but out of all the choices that we have, she’s the best one because she has the most experience.”

Some audience members were still undecided, however.

Chantel Moses, 37, identified as an independent and wanted to listen to both sides — beyond Ms Clinton and Mr Sanders, but also from the Republican candidates. “Foreign policy, I think, is the biggest issue. We’re going to need someone who is … able to negotiate with the current leaders in place, who is going to be able to ensure we have a strong army. We’re going to need a strong military presence,” she said, adding that the US needs a president who can create more jobs and prioritize issues in a realistic way.

A social work student in her senior year at Medgar Evers College, 23-year-old Roberta Sai, felt dubious about Ms Clinton, and said she was leaning toward Mr Sanders, who she said is actually meeting with community leaders when it came to issues that pertained to the black community. “You know she mispronounced Medgar Evers name?” she said, defending the school’s namesake, a crucial Civil Rights figure. “We’re supposed to be an HBCU … so is that why you’re here?”

But Ms Sai did appreciate the excitement generated around the campus and the community at-large.

“I never saw the community so buzzed about this,” she said of the 2016 election. “I’m glad her and Bernie are trying to come here to Brooklyn, New York.”