By Sue Loughlin
TERRE HAUTE — Hillary Clinton’s visit to Terre Haute on Thursday made a difference in the mind of at least one voter, and probably many more.
“She’s got my vote,” said Gloria Nasser-Bovenschen, who heard the presidential candidate speak at the Saratoga Restaurant.
Nasser-Bovenschen wasn’t necessarily an ardent Clinton supporter going in, but seeing the former first lady up close and hearing her positions on the issues made an impact.
And that’s exactly what the Clinton campaign had in mind as it made its way across Indiana, with additional stops in Anderson and Evansville.
Clinton, accompanied by staunch supporter Sen. Evan Bayh, plans an aggressive campaign over the next few weeks to win Indiana’s Democratic primary and, hopefully, the Democratic presidential nomination.
At the Saratoga, Clinton and Bayh sat at a table with several invited Wabash Valley citizens who described some of the challenges they or family members face in today’s economy: layoffs, high health insurance costs and high energy costs.
“This is, for me, an important conversation,” Clinton said.
The group at the table consisted of Don Osborne Jr. and his mother, Judy Osborne, who have a family farm in Knox County; Wayne Harpenau of Terre Haute, an engineer at Sony DADC, and his wife Julie Harpenau, who has held a senior human resources position at Pfizer; and Linda Mullenix, an employee of an automotive parts manufacturing company in Greencastle.
Judy and Don Osborne described the struggles they’ve faced owning a small family farm in Knox County, including high fuel and health insurance costs.
Clinton said the country must deal with soaring energy costs, an issue that is critical to the economy and national security.
“We need a commitment to renewable, clean energy,” a move that if taken seriously could jump-start the economy and create jobs, she said.
She also talked about ending subsidies to oil companies, noting record profits and high gasoline prices.
“We need more investigations into why the prices keep going up,” she said.
She also talked about the need to provide affordable health care and health insurance to all Americans. She noted that 47 million Americans do not have health insurance, and many others are paying too much for their insurance.
“To me, it’s a moral issue,” Clinton said.
She said her health care plan would be universal, would lower costs for everyone and would improve quality.
Harpenau talked about the loss of 660 jobs at Pfizer, which has ceased production of the inhaled insulin drug Exubera.
“It’s having a huge impact on this community,” Harpenau said.
Mullenix works at a plant that is struggling and has had layoffs. She talked about her son losing one job and being retrained for another. Several family members worry about losing their jobs, Mullenix said.
Clinton said Americans work hard and can compete in the world economy, yet incomes are dropping and the middle-class lifestyle is slowly eroding. If she becomes the next president, she says she will take measures to turn the sagging economy around.
One area she would emphasize is pro-worker, pro-American trade policies.
“I’m running for president because I know we can do better,” she said.
Clinton took some questions from others seated in the Saratoga. Joshua Bovenschen, a Woodrow Wilson Middle School student and Nasser-Bovenschen’s son, asked Clinton what she planned to do about the soldiers in Iraq.
“Bring them back,” began Clinton’s response, an answer that was greeted with much applause. But the withdrawal must be done carefully and responsibly, she said. “There is no military solution for the Iraqi civil war.”
Joshua later had his picture taken with Clinton. Asked about his experience with the presidential candidate, he said, “Wow … I hope she wins.”
Stefani Nasser, also a Woodrow Wilson student, asked Clinton if she believed in global warming, to which the senator said she did.
“It is real. We have to take action,” Clinton said, criticizing the Bush administration for failing to do more to address the issue.
Stefani Nasser also had her photo taken with Clinton.
“It would change America dramatically if she was our president,” Nasser said.
Before Clinton left the Saratoga to meet with reporters, she spent time shaking hands, giving autographs and posing for pictures with some longtime – and brand new – “Hoosiers for Hillary” fans. Throughout her visit, there was much applause and many chants of “Hillary! Hillary!”
Before she arrived at the Saratoga, among those eagerly anticipating her visit was Beth Gaither, who got in line outside the Saratoga about 5:30 a.m.
“I am a tremendous Hillary Clinton supporter,” Gaither said. “This is unbelievable.”
Gaither sat just a few tables away from where Clinton would be seated.
“To think we’ll be part of a national movement and help determine a national election is incredible,” Gaither said.
Roberta Santilli sat with Gaither, whom she met Thursday morning.
“This is part of history, and I hope she’s our next president,” Santilli said.
Throughout the Terre Haute stop, Bayh was at Clinton’s side, praising her abilities and encouraging voters to help make her the next U.S. president.
“I wish all the American people could see Hillary the way I have seen her,” Bayh said.
Clinton also spoke of her high regard for Bayh and his legislative work, although when she was asked if she would consider him as a vice presidential running mate, she responded, “It’s premature and presumptuous to talk about any of that.”
Both Clinton and Obama campaigns will be back to Indiana, and very possibly, the Wabash Valley, said Joe Etling, Vigo Party Democratic chairman. He said he’s had communication with the Obama campaign, and he understands Chelsea Clinton will be in Indiana in the near future.
“Indiana will prove to be a very important state in this process,” Etling said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
