Clinton: Trump, Cruz ‘not a gamble we can afford’

Hillary Clinton on Tuesday took aim at GOP presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, arguing that the two candidates undermine America’s middle class.

During a speech to the 2016 Legislative Conference of North America’s Building Trades Unions in Washington, Clinton appeared to pivot her attention to the general election and train her fire on the leading GOP candidates on issues ranging from the economy to foreign policy.

{mosads}Clinton took a swipe at Trump for saying that wages are too high in the country, and she argued the need for higher-paying jobs to help grow the middle class. 

“I said, I do not know who he’s talking to, because Americans deserve a raise,” Clinton said to a chorus of booing from the audience. 

She also chided Cruz for encouraging right-to-work laws, which prohibit businesses and unions from requiring all workers, not just union members, to pay union dues.

“Right to work is wrong, it’s wrong for workers, and it’s wrong for America,” Clinton said. “If I’m fortunate enough to become your president, organized labor will always have a champion in the White House; I will not have anyone undermine collective bargaining rights.”

Clinton touted her $10 billion investment strategy for growing America’s manufacturing sector, which she unveiled earlier this month. She also highlighted her energy proposal as a “real plan,” contrasting it with Trump’s plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I’m the only candidate on either side of this race with a comprehensive plan to build a 21st century energy plan,” Clinton said. “It’s not building a wall that you’ll get the Mexican government to pay for.”

Turning her attention to national security, the former secretary of State condemned Trump for talking “casually” about using enhanced forms of interrogation including water boarding. She also knocked Cruz for his proposal to monitor Muslim neighborhoods.

“It doesn’t make them sound strong. It makes it sound like they’re in over their heads,” Clinton said, adding it’s “not a gamble we can afford.”

Clinton also appeared to take a veiled shot at Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, jabbing him for not focusing enough on national security. She has repeatedly tried to paint the Vermont senator as inexperienced and uninterested on issues surrounding foreign policy.

“Our president needs to be just as passionate about protecting our country as they are fixing our country,” Clinton said.

Clinton’s speech comes hours before polls close in the critical New York primary.

She is expected to clinch a victory in the Empire State with polls showing a double-digit lead, but Sanders is in the midst of a winning streak, having taken eight of the past nine contests.

Both candidates have ties to New York: Sanders grew up in Brooklyn, and Clinton served as U.S. senator for the state.