Clinton Visit to Indiana Marks My First Campaign Experience

Evansville, Ind. -- It was Thursday, March 20. I looked around the sea of people, amazed at how many people showed up. I was excited at seeing her. My mom and I got there early and found a good seat. I watched as the security increased. I saw a few men in suits and figured they were secret service men. I felt like I was in a movie. Except not all of them had sunglasses on constantly. I kept glancing at my watch, waiting for the time her limousine brought her. The last time I had checked, it was 8:30 a.m. There was a lot of media attention. I recognized a lot of the news reporters hanging around the front door of the Saratoga restaurant.

After waiting three hours, surprisingly, an SUV pulled up to the curb, not a limousine. We hurried to the door and pushed through it along with what seemed like hundreds of other people. The media were the first ones out the door. Lights were flashing all around me as Hillary Clinton stepped out of the back seat of the vehicle. Everyone applauded as she waved at spectators. She was accompanied by Indiana's senator, Evan Bayh. Together, they signed autographs for some of the people. After a few minutes, I watched her walk through the door and into the restaurant. Security made everyone wait outside until she got situated inside. A few spectators got the crowd around them riled up when they glanced up and saw several college guys on the roof of the restaurant. Apparently, they were trying to sneak in to get a peek at Senator Clinton before everyone else. Of course, that caused a stir.

Then, when things were OK inside, everyone filed in. Once we were seated, Evan Bayh stepped to the podium and began speaking. You could feel the excitement rise as he was announcing Senator Clinton. She received a standing ovation as she stood to begin talking as Bayh sat down. Afterward, she sat at a table set up for herself, her agents, and Senator Evan Bayh.

She invited an elderly couple to sit at the table with her. They had concerns about the failing economy and rising gasoline prices as it would effect the elderly as well as all citizens.

After she gave her speech about those concerns, she led everyone out into the back parking lot and climbed up the makeshift stairs leading to the makeshift stage. There, she gave her campaign speech on her plans for change if she were to be elected for president. She talked about job changes and more economic changes. I noticed people were holding picket signs saying things like "Clinton for President" and even one that said "Bayh For Vice President." I thought that would be a pretty cool thing to happen. Indiana's senator becoming Clinton's vice president.

As she was leaving, everyone followed her around the building to the front. I noticed in the window across the street was a sign that read "Obama For America!" I later found out that this was the place that Senator Obama set up a campaign office. But Clinton didn't let that stop her.

When I returned home, I watched the news and found out Clinton went to one of the nursing homes to visit the elderly. Initially, she pulled up to the curb and waved at the patients that were sitting on the sidewalk. Then, she told the driver something and she got out. According to the news, Clinton shook hands with each person and then sang "Happy Birthday" to one lady who turned 100 years old today.