Former president makes historic stop in Murray
By ERIC WALKER
Editor
Thelma Bowers had heard plenty of talk about change, but heard little to explain what was going to be changed.
“I'm concerned about gas, the high price of food, and nobody's doing anything about it,” she said.
Bowers, who admitted to being an undecided voter, got a glimpse of what one candidate's proposals are to deal with those and other issues, even if they came from the candidate's husband.
Former President Bill Clinton made a historic stop in Murray Friday. It was the first time a sitting or former president had visited Calloway County in 50 years since Harry Truman toured the county following his years in office.
Clinton's visit came on the heels of numerous other pitstops around the Commonwealth, including Louisville, Bardstown, Owensboro, Madisonville and Paducah, in order to campaign for his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., faces fellow Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in Tuesday's primary election in Kentucky.
Bill Clinton stressed the importance of Kentucky's voters casting their ballots for his wife, who has stayed in the race despite trailing Obama in delegates needed to clinch the party's nomination to face the likely Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, in November.
“She won in Massachusetts, Iowa, California, Texas, Ohio, because people like you needed a president,” he told the crowd of more than 1,000 who stood in front of Playhouse in the Park to hear the former president. “Hillary thinks you're just as important as those people who voted back in January and February.”
Hillary Clinton appears to be the solid lock to win Kentucky Tuesday with media polls giving her a 30-60 percent advantage over Obama. She has even garnered endorsements from three of Kentucky's superdelegates.
The Clintons - including daughter Chelsea - have been crossing the Commonwealth in recent days, campaigning for Tuesday. Hillary Clinton was to campaign again in Kentucky today (Saturday) then visit western Kentucky Sunday with stops in Bowling Green and Mayfield.
The Mayfield event is scheduled for the Mayfield-Graves County Chamber of Commerce at 4:15 p.m. Doors open at 2:15 p.m.
Murray's park rally attracted young and old, and even some from as far away as Texas. James Parker of Fort Worth was in the area on business and heard about Clinton's visit. He and friend Joey Slaton of Atlanta, Ga., were both wearing t-shirts supporting Hillary's campaign.
Parker said the final nomination could be tight, but was confident in her chances for the Bluegrass State. “She'll do good here. But it'll go down to the wire,” he said. “I think she's more electable than Obama.”
For complete story, see Saturday's Ledger & Times
Story created May 17, 2008 - 00:31:08 EDT.
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