Published: May 08, 2008 11:29 pm      

Bill Clinton visits Mercer

ATHENS — It’s not everyday that a former president comes to town.

For a crowd of several hundred citizens who jammed the Carter Center Gym at Concord University Thursday, the event was also somewhat of a historic occasion.

“I think it’s fantastic and I’m hoping Mrs. Clinton will be our next president,” Joyce Taylor of Princeton said. “I think we need a change. I do.”

Eloise Ratliff of Princeton carried a personal letter she had received from Hillary Clinton with her to Thursday’s rally.

“I have a personal letter from her,” Ratliff said. “I sent a contribution and she replied back to me personally. I am so proud of this letter. I carry it with me. If she wins the presidency I’ll have history here.”

Ratliff said she wanted an opportunity to hug President Clinton.

Clinton’s visit to Mercer County was the first by a president since George H.W. Bush visited the Brushfork Armory in 2002 when his son George W. Bush was campaigning for the nation’s top office.

Shirley Barker of Princeton said her sister met President Kennedy. She was hoping to meet President Clinton Thursday.

“Two of my sisters and my aunt are here together,” Barker said. “We are very excited. I heard he (President Clinton) was running late in one of the other places. But it’s still worth the wait.”

Mattie Cooper of Pipestem said she is hopeful that Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination.

“I’m hoping, but it does not look too good,” Cooper said. “But I am really excited about this. I think it is great he is coming.”

Pam Trail, also of Pipestem, said Hillary Clinton will make a great president.

“I think she has the ideal experience,” Trail said. “I think she can get it done. She’s definitely got the best idea for health care. I just think it is time we put a woman in there and definitely a Clinton.”

Bobby England of Princeton also was among the hundreds waiting in line Thursday to see President Clinton.

“She would be a good president,” England said. “She would be as good as him. I think she has still got a chance.”

England said he thinks Hillary Clinton will win West Virginia Tuesday.

With Hillary Rodham Clinton locked in a hard-fought race with Democrat Barack Obama, Tuesday’s primary contest is expected to be the first time in more than four decades that West Virginia voters have played a significant role in selecting a presidential candidate.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com