LEWISTON – Adrienne Rochon came prepared.

The Lewiston resident was concerned her shoes would soak through as she waited in line to see U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton at the Lewiston Armory on Saturday. So she brought an extra pair of socks in her pocket. She also brought a copy of the presidential hopeful’s book “Living History” to get signed. And she brought her daughter along to “show her the future.”

“This is historic,” Rochon said. “We get the chance to elect the first female president.”

Rochon was just one of more than a thousand Mainers who flocked to attend Clinton’s town hall-style event in Lewiston.

“I got here at 8:30 a.m., but I was supposed to be here at 7:30 a.m.,” she said. “I overslept.”

As it was, Rochon was one of the first three people let into the Armory when the doors opened just past 11:30 in the morning.

Just behind Rochon in line were Hank and Margaret Meyer of Auburn. Margaret said she decided to support Clinton after the New Hampshire primary.

“Obama was winning when I went to bed,” she said. “But when I woke up, she had won and I just got this feeling.”

Hank Meyer said he has supported Clinton longer than his wife.

“But whether it’s Clinton or Obama, we will support them,” he said.

Others also spoke fondly of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Clinton’s rival for the Democratic nomination.

“I like Obama, but I’d much rather have Hillary,” Thomas Juray of Auburn said. “She’s a strong woman.”

Juray, who plans to caucus today with his mother, said “never in his wildest dreams” did he think Clinton would come to Maine.

Barbara Benjamin-McManus, who teaches science and math at Lewiston Middle School, said while Obama was nice, she preferred Clinton’s experience. “Puppies are cute, but when you leave home you need a guard dog,” Benjamin-McManus said. “Just the fact that a woman and a black man are running is historic. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the experience.”

Clinton and Obama are embroiled in a tight race for the nomination. Both candidates visited the state Saturday, even though Maine’s 24 delegates only make up 1 percent of the 2,025 needed for the Democratic nomination.

With the race so close, several voters still had not made up their minds heading into the event. But Clinton’s presence was able to convince at least a couple potential caucus-goers to join her camp.

“I was on the fence, but I feel comfortable now,” said Elaine Cornwall of Lewiston. “I enjoyed the specific plans she presented. It’s easy to say, this is a problem and we have to fix it. Well, that’s not good enough. You have to tell me how you are going to fix it. And she did.”

Cornwall said she had never caucused before, but was planning to today.

Norm Gagne of Lewiston has only participated in one party caucus before, in 1984, when he supported former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart. But like Cornwall, Gagne said he plans on attending today.

“I am leaning toward Hillary after I heard what she had to say about universal health care,” he said.

Gagne had been undecided before hearing Clinton speak, but said her comments on health care and “getting soldiers back from the war” were appealing.

“My son served two terms over there and I just don’t want people to go through what we did,” he said. “I am still on the fence, but I like what I heard.”

Clinton, who was scheduled to arrive at 1:45 p.m., did not walk across the stage until 2:30.

The anxious crowd was disappointed when it was announced that Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert was to take the stage, but quickly rebounded when they learned he was accompanied by Clinton.

Gilbert announced his endorsement of Clinton before handing the microphone to Gov. John Baldacci, who introduced the senator.

Speaking for about 40 minutes, Clinton touched on several issues important to the state, including health care, job growth and rising energy costs. She even continued speaking when her microphone stopped working for five minutes, projecting her voice throughout the armory.

After her speech, Clinton took questions from the audience for another 20 minutes. She brushed a tear from her eye while a disabled Maine veteran, who was using a crutch to walk after being told he was never going to, said he barely made it to the event because of a “terrible” migraine.

“But hearing you speak about problems that will be alleviated as soon as you get elected has just made my day,” he said. “Thank you.”

Copy the Story Link