TERRE HAUTE — Hundreds of Wabash Valley residents gathered at Fifth Street and Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute Thursday to catch a glimpse of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
The first Clinton supporters arrived outside the Saratoga Restaurant at 431 Wabash Ave. around 2:30 a.m. – eight hours before Clinton was scheduled to arrive.
Clinton was in Terre Haute campaigning for the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
“It’s a historic event,” said Brazil Mayor Ann Bradshaw, who got to the Saratoga around 6 a.m., she said. Bradshaw and others waiting in line were given pictures of Clinton for possible autographs.
By 9 a.m., close to 200 people were either waiting in a long line that stretched for more than half-a-block outside the Saratoga or were milling around the streets waiting for Clinton’s arrival.
Television news trucks from Terre Haute and Indianapolis were parked nearby as journalists interviewed Clinton supporters. Wabash Avenue was closed for two blocks and Fifth Street was closed alongside the Saratoga.
“I’ve wanted all my life to meet Hillary,” said Judy Clayton of Terre Haute. Clayton said she remembers shaking hands with John F. Kennedy in 1960 when the then-presidential candidate was in Terre Haute. She and her daughter, Darby Eaton, had been waiting in line to meet Clinton since 6:30 a.m., Clayton said.
“We’re all excited,” she added.
The crowd’s anticipation of Clinton’s arrival seemed to accelerate as police cleared Wabash Avenue in front of the Saratoga a little past 10 a.m. Several people carried homemade “Clinton for President” signs or wore Clinton T-shirts.
About eight people carried anti-war signs at the event.
“Hillary is the woman for the job,” said Merry Miller of Terre Haute, who was wearing a homemade “I love Hillary” T-shirt. “She has the experience that [Illinois Sen.] Barack Obama does not have. Besides, she has been president before,” Miller added with a laugh.
Around 400 people stood and cheered, took pictures or simply strained to get a look when Clinton arrived in a large sport utility vehicle outside the Saratoga a few minutes before 11 a.m.
After Clinton, accompanied by Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, went inside the restaurant, most of the crowd moved to the parking lot behind the Saratoga where several hundred other people were already gathered. Campaign workers had informed the crowd earlier that Clinton would be making an appearance behind the restaurant before leaving town.
In the back parking lot, campaign workers distributed “Clinton for President” signs and took names and contact information from possible campaign volunteers.
Around 11:15 a.m., a speaker system was switched on, allowing the crowd behind the Saratoga a chance to hear Clinton speaking with Wabash Valley residents inside the restaurant.
The crowd outside, which had been largely speaking among themselves, cheered around noon when Clinton told people inside the Saratoga “we are going to have to wrap up.”
Around 12:40 the crowd behind the Saratoga, now numbering between 800 and 1,000, was finally rewarded when a smiling and waving Clinton emerged in the alley between Ellis Law and Smith Barney.
“What a great crowd,” a slightly hoarse but enthusiastic Clinton told the gathering of supporters. “We’ve got to get the economy working again. … A money manager on Wall Street should not pay less in taxes than a nurse, teacher or [manufacturer] here in Terre Haute,” she said to applause.
Clinton also told the crowd she supports the use of ethanol and would put an end to the Bush administration’s “No Child Left Behind” program. She also said “there is no military solution” in Iraq and “we need to begin bringing our men and women home” from the war there.
“I’m thrilled to see all of you here,” Clinton told the crowd as the sun, which had been behind the clouds much of the morning, broke through. “With your help we will turn our country around.”
After speaking to the crowd from a raised platform, Clinton and Bayh remained for more interviews with reporters and to meet local residents who were allowed near the former first lady.
“It was really exciting,” said Michael Oellig, an education student at Indiana State University who got a chance to shake Clinton’s hand after she spoke to the outdoor crowd. “She’s got a really strong message for teachers,” he said.
“I’m leaning toward Hillary now,” said Bob Bissey III, 48, of Terre Haute. Bissey, who got a chance to ask Clinton about recruiting more troops for the war in Iraq, said he had been a Barack Obama supporter before seeing Clinton on Thursday.
Finally, around 1:30 p.m., more than 21⁄2 hours after arriving downtown, Clinton, along with Bayh and her entourage of campaign workers, Secret Service agents and others, drove away to cheers from the 200 or so supporters who had remained.
Some supporters said they planned to travel to Evansville where Clinton was scheduled to speak later Thursday.
Charles King, who is retired from ISU, said he had hoped Clinton might speak at a larger venue, such as Tilson Auditorium at the university. However, King and his wife Susanne, both Clinton supporters, attended the event, and “We enjoyed it considerably,” he said.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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