Leading up to the primary elections Tuesday in 24 states, including California, Sen. Hillary Clinton made a stop in San Diego Friday to rally young voters and share her platform.

The presidential hopeful arrived from Los Angeles at San Diego State University’s Cox Arena more than an hour late, with an entourage of reporters and supporters in tow.

Clinton traveled south to San Diego following Thursday’s debate in Los Angeles with Democratic rival Barack Obama.

Among Clinton’s supporters was Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who, along with Sen. Christine Kehoe, Sen. Denise Ducheny and San Diego State University President Stephen Weber, joined Clinton on stage.

“If you vote for Hillary Clinton, you’re voting for change in the White House,” Villaraigosa said. “You’re voting for a new America; to get out of Iraq quickly and safely; healthcare for every American; and, you’re voting for someone who is going to address the economic crisis facing working families.”

In the primary election on Tuesday, Clinton champed in California, though, according to CNN, she only holds a thin 0.4 percent lead over Obama nationwide.

Calls to Clinton’s Sacramento headquarters requesting an interview were not returned.

Absent from Clinton’s 40-minute platform was the candidate’s take on issues specific to the GLBT community. She did not discuss Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, hate crimes legislation, same-sex marriage, or the Employment Non-Discrimination Act – issues that drove some GLBT voters to the polls on Tuesday.

Clinton did, however, capture the crowd.

“Isn’t it thrilling to know that one of the people on the stage last night [at the debate] will make history as our 2008 Democratic nominee?” Clinton asked the crowd. “And if we work together, you are looking at the next president of the United States of America.”

It seemed Clinton tailored segments of her speech to a college-age crowd, often discussing the cost of education, also addressing global warming and the war in Iraq.

“We cannot just think about the next election, we have to think about the next generation,” Clinton said.

Clinton discussed strategies regarding the economy, education, universal health care, strengthening the middle class, eliminating poverty, immigration and the war in Iraq.

All the while, the New York senator jabbed at President George W. Bush and his administration, calling for an end to cronyism, special interest and incompetence in the White House.

“We need to re-establish a relationship of trust and accountability between the American people and the United States government, in particular, our president,” she said.

The crowd, largely comprising students, responded with long, loud cheers to Clinton’s call for education reform.

“I will end the mandate known as No Child Left Behind – it doesn’t work,” she said. “We need a 21st century education system that focuses on individual children, and what each child should be given to succeed. Our children are not just little test takers, and our teachers should not just be little test givers.”

Clinton also discussed offering a $3,500 tax credit to families for every year a child is enrolled in college, and she underlined the need for direct student aid.

“We have to rein in student loan companies that have been ripping off students and families,” she said. “… Student loan companies have been charging predatory rates of interest, and we’ve got to stop it now and move to direct lending.”

“Here’s what I think we should do. If you graduate with debt or if you already have debt, and you’re willing to do a public service job – teaching, nursing, law enforcement – we will forgive your debt.”

When the applause and cheers died down, Clinton laughed and said, “I think we’ve got a good idea here.”

With regard to education, Clinton also emphasized the need for public service training and vocational training for students.

Second only to her take on education, Clinton’s strategy for universal health care garnered the most enthusiastic response.

Clinton introduced her American Health Choices Plan, a universal health care strategy that would offer Americans access to choices afforded the members of Congress. Clinton said Congress has access to more than 250 health care options, and, if elected, she would make affordable plans available to all Americans.

“I am so excited about what we can do,” she said. “We can turn our system into one that promotes wellness, not just one that responds to sickness.”

Clinton addressed ending the war in Iraq near the end of her appearance.

“On Jan. 20, 2009, the next president of the United States will be sworn in on the steps of the capitol, walk into the oval office, and face all the problems we know about so many more we cant even predict,” she said.

Clinton said one of her priorities will be to re-establish world leadership and moral authority, end the war in Iraq, and begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within 60 days of taking office.

“It is important we understand this has to be planned carefully,” she said. “Anyone who says they will wake up on day one in office and start bringing troops home doesn’t understand how dangerous it is to withdraw troop and equipment.”

On the economy:

Clinton outlined a need for jobs with rising incomes, a hike in the minimum wage, and investments in renewable energy to create “green-collar” jobs.

“We must have an economy that works for everyone, an economy that creates good jobs with rising incomes for those willing to take responsibility. The government must be a strong partner to create those ladders of opportunity.”

“With all due respect, it is not rich people who made America great, it’s the middle class and working families who made America what it is today. We need a president again who gets it, who will be a champion for hard-working Americans, fiscal responsibility, cutting the debt and ending the deficit. We need to end the war in Iraq and bring that money right back here. We need to get back to a tax code that doesn’t favor the wealthy and well connected – it is wrong.”

On strategic energy:

Clinton proposed investing in a strategic energy fund to research new technology and renewable forms of energy.

“The way to fund it: I will take the tax subsidies and giveaways away from the oil companies,” she said. “Exxon-Mobil just posted its quarterly profit – over $40 billion, the highest profit ever. Now, I have said, they have got to be a part of the solution, because they’ve certainly been a part of the problem. … I know we will not make progress until the two oil men leave the White House once and for all.”

On immigration:

Clinton proposed a path to legalization for the more than 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. With Clinton’s plan, undocumented immigrants who reside illegally in the United States will be required to take steps to becoming citizens. They will be required to pay a fee for entering the country illegally and required to pay back taxes. Undocumented immigrants with criminal records will be deported, she said. She also said it is important undocumented immigrants become citizens, so employers stop taking advantage of and exploiting them. She additionally called for more security at our borders and ports of entry.