Published: December 30, 2008 11:45 pm         

LOOK BACK: Politics stirred excitement in 2008

Presidential candidates repeatedly brought campaigns to Valley

TERRE HAUTE — Vigo County won’t soon forget the historic 2008 presidential election, which brought Hillary Clinton to the Saratoga and Barack Obama to the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

Both candidates visited Vigo County twice before Obama was elected the country’s first black president.

But the excitement didn’t end there.

When the candidates themselves couldn’t come, they sent family, celebrities and other dignitaries on their behalf.

On April 11, former President Bill Clinton caused a stir when he stopped at 1426 S. Third St. to visit his wife’s Terre Haute campaign headquarters, which had been damaged by fire the night before. “This is a heck of a way to get publicity for Hillary’s campaign,” he quipped as a small crowd grew to a much larger one.

He was on his way to South Vermillion High School in Clinton to give a speech in support of his wife’s candidacy.

Kevin and Naomi Foster were the first people to arrive at the high school (at 2 a.m.) as they awaited the former president’s visit. “You just don’t get a chance to see a former president very often,” Kevin Foster said at the time. About 1,500 people attended the event.

As if a visit from a former president wasn’t enough, a future president visited later that night.

Obama staged a town hall meeting in Terre Haute North Vigo High School, where some people, including Scotia Brown, waited in line several hours to get a good seat. Brown’s then 6-month-old grandson, Gavin, was later photographed with the future president-elect.

Obama “has touched a chord in so many people,” said Brown, a McLean High School counselor. “He gives people hope.” About 2,000 people attended the town hall meeting.

Among the celebrities to visit the community before the May primary were actors Sean Astin, stumping for Hillary Clinton, and Jeremy Piven, campaigning for Obama.

Other visitors included former Cabinet members, policy advisers, governors of other states and even a former network TV anchor. In April, Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, had dinner at Carosi’s Italian Restaurant with some Clinton supporters.

On Oct. 28, former Today Show co-host Jane Pauley, a native of Indiana, visited Democratic headquarters in Sullivan to speak on Obama’s behalf in his quest for the White House. “As for battleground states, my fellow Hoosiers, you are in one,” Pauley told those assembled. “I can only pray that my state, Indiana, will be a blue state this year.”

Her prayer was answered on Election Day when Indiana chose Obama to be the country’s next leader.

Campaign stops by presidential candidates brought some high-profile media coverage to west-central Indiana. Among the media outlets passing through were CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, NPR, CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times.

Vigo County also drew national and even international attention because of its reputation as a bellwether county; it has been correct in every presidential election but two since 1892.

Its voting record was highlighted in a National Public Radio report, while an Italian newspaper correspondent — Mario Margiocco — also visited the community to find out why it consistently votes for the country’s next president.

True to form, on Election Day, Vigo County again delivered on its reputation as a presidential bellwether, voting for Barack Obama.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.