Changing plans, changing minds
Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2008 4:44 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
MILWAUKEE, WI -- The word on Hillary Clinton -- at least among campaign staffers and many voters who have met her -- is that the while she may not come across on stage as well as Barack Obama, the closer people get to her, the more they like her.
So when bad weather prevented a plane trip to Green Bay, forcing the cancellation of an event in nearby De Pere, Clinton went to Miss Katie's Diner here to press the flesh. It's the kind of close interaction she likes. The visit thrilled six young women seated at a corner booth, who talked excitedly amongst themselves as the senator slowly worked her way toward them.
One told the group this could help her make up her mind come Election Day. Rep. Tammy Baldwin chatted briefly with the women before Clinton came over with Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton. The senator called them "dynamic women" and talked about her student supporters and college campuses that she said were "coming alive again."
"I encourage all of you to get involved in some way or another," Clinton said.
Afterwards, the three women eligible to vote in the state said they were still undecided, but that this personal contact had helped. One student, who attends Xavier University in Ohio -- a key state for Clinton -- explained why she was having trouble deciding between Clinton and Obama.
"It's kind of a tough choice just because, you know, Obama's really hit the young people so far and Hillary is, I mean, right now so," said 21-year-old Alison Traudt, who was here visiting her sister.
Terese Hagerty, a 19-year-old from St. Louis, MO who is a student at Marquette University, said she was going back and forth on whom to support, but would definitely be voting on Tuesday, saying it was her responsibility. She was impressed that the senator personally came to every table in the diner.
"They're both putting so much effort in there. And obviously, I mean kind of like a broken record, but Hillary's experience versus Barack's like fresh look, so it's really, it's just very difficult, because they both do have strengths and they're both speaking to many different age groups, so it's difficult," Hagerty said.
The two other Wisconsin voters at the table vigorously agreed that they would be hitting the polls, even if they weren't sure when they would be making up their minds.
The next stop was El Rey, a supermarket in a Hispanic neighborhood, where they announced the senator's arrival over the loudspeakers in Spanish several times and thanked her for coming. Painted on the wall above the checkout area were the phrases "Orgullo hispano" ("Hispanic pride") and "God Bless America."
"That's my girl," said Abel Deleon, 36, who works at family-owned restaurant Carnito's Don Lucho nearby. Deleon, who is originally from Texas but says he will "definitely" be voting for Hillary here on Tuesday, snapped a picture of the senator with his cameraphone and shook her hand. He said he liked the Clintons, but couldn't really explain why.
"I like both of them. What they represent; what they're trying to do," Deleon said.
The senator has consistently done well with Hispanic voters and was fairly mobbed at events in largely Hispanic South Texas and at a canvassing event in San Antonio last week.
Clinton has been criticized by Obama for not campaigning extensively in Wisconsin. Her plan is to depart the state Monday, a day before the primary. Her campaign has said they expect her to "hold her own" here.
