Clinton campaigns in Hammond ahead of Indiana primary

HAMMOND, Ind. (WLS) -- Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are both hoping to put more distance between themselves and their rivals as voters head to the polls in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Clinton is also looking ahead to next week's primary in Indiana. She campaigned Tuesday in Hammond.

The candidate was the guest of local iron workers. Their national union has endorsed the former Secretary of State. In her speech, she focused on protecting American jobs and the middle class.

"I will not let this vital industry disappear. I'm going to market he steel industry's survival one of my top priorities," Clinton said.

The audience included many northwest Indiana Democrats.

"She provides a specific plan for getting things done," Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said.

Pre-election polls suggest Clinton leads in most, if not all five states that voted Tuesday. Her opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, still believes he can upset the frontrunner in several primaries.

"I think we have a shot in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island. Maybe Delaware," Sanders said.

In Hammond, Clinton said if elected, she'd appoint a "trade prosecutor" to stop the Chinese from dumping cheap steel in the U.S. market.

"We are going to use every tool, every tool we possibly can against China for their illegal actions," Clinton said.

Munster iron workers applauded the candidate's stand on steel. But a few remained undecided between Democrat Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

"I like Trump a lot on security, a national security basis, but I also like a lot of what Hillary is saying," said Lucas Mitcheltree, an ironworker.

After the Munster steel plant, Clinton traveled to Mishawaka, east of South Bend, for an appearance at a manufacturing plant there. She'll spend election night in Philadelphia.