Published: April 11, 2008 11:59 pm         

People pack South Vermillion to hear Bill Clinton

People start lining up at 2 a.m. for former president’s campaign stop

Clinton — The line waiting to see former President Bill Clinton speak at South Vermillion High School stretched for probably one-fifth of a mile around the school Friday morning.

Some Clinton supporters, many carrying signs or wearing “Hillary for President” T-shirts, arrived at the high school before sunrise.

“You just don’t get a chance to see a former president very often,” said Kevin Foster, an employee of Bemis in Terre Haute who, along with his wife, Naomi, was the first person to arrive at the Vermillion County school. The Fosters got there around 2 a.m., they said.

“I think the country did pretty good when [Bill Clinton] was president,” Foster said. “The economy was good and we were at peace.”

By 9:30 a.m., around 1,000 people were lined up to hear the former president talk about his wife’s candidacy. Sunshine and a light breeze kept the temperature moderate for the large gathering. A man selling T-shirts and buttons gave Hillary Clinton backers a chance to show their support.

“I’m here because it’s a historical moment,” said Leigh Ann Vogel of Terre Haute. Vogel arrived at the school with her 84-year-old parents around 7:30 a.m., she said. “I’ve absolutely made up my mind [Hillary Clinton] is the one for the job,” she said. “She’s what our people need.”

A homemade sign held by Cheryl Wilson of Covington read “NObama ’08: [Illinois Sen. Barack] Obama’s audacity is getting on my nerves.” (The shared title of Obama’s 2004 keynote address to the Democratic National Convention and his second book, released in 2006, is “The Audacity of Hope.”) Obama is going too far in his recent campaign efforts, Wilson said. “It’s one thing to be confident, it’s another thing to be arrogant,” she said.

Wilson, a cancer survivor, says she needs Hillary Clinton’s universal health care plan and wants the next president to stop China from “dumping” cheap steel in American ports.

While many of the people waiting to see Bill Clinton indicated they plan to vote for Hillary in the Indiana primary election May 6, at least one person, Joe Summers of Fairview, said he is still undecided.

“We need somebody different in the White House,” Summers said. “We need someone who will take care of disabled people.”

Many of the people at the campaign rally said they were concerned about the war in Iraq, health care or fuel prices. All these subjects were large parts of Clinton’s speech later in the morning.

The crowd of around 1,500 inside the South Vermillion gym cheered loudly when the former president was introduced. Many held homemade signs and a few South Vermillion students, who made up a large part of the audience, wore T-shirts showing their support for Bill or Hillary Clinton.

“I think they’ll be a great team,” said Ja-neen Elkins of Bainbridge after the former president had finished speaking and greeting supporters. Elkins said she had made Bill Clinton an honorary member of her left-handed Clinton fan club.

“I shook his hand,” an excited Melanie Dove, a stay-at-home mom from Clinton, said as she left the gymnasium. “Stay at home moms for Hillary!” Dove said.

Don Stevenson of Hillsdale has now met both Clintons. He met Hillary Clinton in Terre Haute last month and got a chance to speak with Bill on Friday. He and his family already have voted for Hillary Clinton, Stevenson said.

Many others at the Hoosiers for Hillary event said they had also met the former first lady during her Terre Haute visit. A few even said they planned to also see Obama later Friday in Terre Haute.

Lisa Goff of Terre Haute arrived early at South Vermillion with her 8-year-old daughter, Mary-Katherine, who was dressed as a beauty queen. The two had waited seven hours outside the Saratoga Restaurant in Terre Haute to meet Hillary Clinton, Goff said, and they planned to attend Obama’s Road to Change tour later in the day. “We’re doing political stuff,” Mary-Katherine said.

Another early arrival at the Clinton rally was Leo Reposh of rural Vermillion County. Reposh was at the head of the line when the doors opened for the Clinton rally around 10:30 a.m. Bill Clinton had reduced the national debt a little when he was president, Reposh said. “Hopefully [Hillary] will follow in his footsteps,” he said.

Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.