At a forum hosted by the Mothers of the Movement, a gun control advocacy organization, Hillary Clinton said that she was “very supportive” of Mayor Jim Kenney’s soda tax, according to CNN. 

In early March, Mayor Kenney, introduced a plan to tax soda at three cents per ounce in order to fund a universal pre-K program. 

"It starts early with working with families, working with kids, building up community resources -- I'm very supportive of the mayor's proposal to tax soda to get universal pre-school for kids," Clinton said. "I mean, we need universal pre-school. And if that's a way to do it, that's how we should do it."

Former Mayor Michael Nutter had proposed a similar soda tax in 2011, but it failed. President Obama briefly endorsed the idea of a national soda tax back in 2009, reported The Daily Caller. “It’s an idea we should be exploring,” he said.

“This is major step forward for all Philadelphians who believe that we must invest in our children and in our neighborhoods, and we appreciate Secretary Clinton’s support for the plan to expand pre-K services throughout the city,” Kevin Feeley, spokesman for Philadelphians for a Fair Future said in a press release.  “Her support helps the public understand that there is a critical need for these investments, and the proposed Sugary Drinks Tax is the fairest and most effective way to pay for them.”