The Eagle Eye

Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News

Sen. Barack Obama- IL speaks to 22,000 supporters at a rally on the Old Main lawn at Penn State University on Sunday.

An Obama supporter rallies in front of Old Main while waiting for the

Chris Tague helps create one of the many signs produced during a meeting of local Hillary Clinton supporters.

The realization that the long road to the presidential nomination runs through PA has been reached by both democratic candidates as the April 22 primary nears.
This realization is evident by a visit to the Penn State University Rec. Hall on Thursday by former President Bill Clinton, in support of his wife Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama's speech on the Old Main lawn at PSU on Sunday.
The appearances by both campaigns brought droves of devotees from across the region, including loyal supporters from LHU and the city of Lock Haven.
The Thursday evening event drew a crowd of over 6,000 people to the Rec. Hall.
According to Resident Director Chrissy Fortuner Bill Clinton's 45 minute speech centered on why voters should choose his wife for the nomination.
The former president covered an array of topics including Sen. Clinton's plans for health care, global warming, the war in Iraq and higher education.
Having realized the importance of the primary Fortuner jumped at the chance to attend the rally.
"I'm a Hillary supporter first off, but I've always liked Bill Clinton. He has great public speaking skills," said Fortuner who was entertained by Clinton's sense of humor.
Lock Haven was also represented in the audience of 22,000 who attended the Barack Obama rally on Sunday afternoon.
"I decided to go because I'm actually a Barack Obama supporter and a volunteer on the campaign," said Brandon Mendoza, a senior criminal justice major and political science minor.
Obama touched on many of the same topics as Clinton, but also offered an explanation of why he was running for office. The Illinois senator confronted critics who say he should wait until he has more experience to run for president by saying that the time for change is now.
"America can't wait, this is a pivotal moment in history," Mendoza said. "We need a leader who can listen to the people and know what's right."
Central Pennsylvania may prove to be a turning point in the tight race, and LHU students are taking the opportunity to get involved in the historic primary.
Last Wednesday a group of Clinton supporters took over the Eagle Wing Café to create signs that they will use for visibility promoting their candidate.
The primarily student group also included Lock Haven residents and a representative from Clinton's campaign.
Heather Doherty, a sophomore political science major, helped organize the sign making event after a discussion with other Clinton supporters about visibility.
"I am a big supporter of Hillary and there are a lot of Obama supporters so I wanted people to know about Hillary," said Doherty who feels that some voters may have the wrong idea about the NY senator.Alice Alexandrescu, a junior visual arts major, is also working to bring Clinton's message to students with signs and a facebook group.
Alexandrescu who calls Clinton a "purple candidate" because of her bipartisan appeal, believes students need to look deeper at the candidates.
"When I ask people who they like they don't have in depth answers. They need to look beyond pundits and the media," Alexandrescu said.
While Bill Clinton was speaking in State College, a group of Obama supporters that included community members, faculty and students met with a representative from the Obama campaign at Caffeine Nation in Lock Haven.
The meeting opened with the attendees sharing why they want to help with Sen. Obama's campaign.
"I am hungry for a new kind of politics," Dr. Mark Cloud of the psychology department told the group of over 20.
The participants shared their personal connection to their candidate. Many cited his books, "Dreams from My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" and his speeches, especially from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his recent speech on race in Philadelphia as catalysts to their support.
Community member John Johnson shared his excitement with those in attendance.
"This is only the second time since I was 11 that I was excited about a presidential candidate. The first was John Kennedy. I think we have another John Kennedy," said Johnson who said that Franklin Roosevelt was president when he was 11.
With less than three weeks until PA democrats cast their votes to decide this highly contested primary the state is certain to continue to be fiercely campaigned.
Local supporters will also work hard to ensure that their candidate is one step closer the nomination.

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