Kennedy, Clinton Hit the Trail in Lafayette,
Indiana

post from Blog Obama '08 on 30 April 2008 05:35:00 PM. © Blog Obama '08

It was a big day for both Democratic campaigns in the Greater Lafayette area of Indiana today. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright visited the Purdue University campus this morning on behalf of the Clintons. Caroline Kennedy visited the Tippecanoe County Library this afternoon on behalf of Barack Obama. HRC herself visited Lafayette this evening for a rally.

Folks lined up around the block to see Ms. Kennedy who visited to share her vision for an Obama campaign in America. Personally, I didn't anticipate such a long line, and although I showed up well in advance of the event, there wasn't enough room inside the library to accommodate the crowd. "I won't underestimate a Lafayette crowd again," one Obama staffer said. Fortunately, Ms. Kennedy took the time to greet everyone waiting in line and encourage them to vote early for Obama.

A couple hours later, just a few blocks away, Hillary Clinton spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand people in the plaza in downtown Lafayette. The topic of the talk was bringing jobs to Indiana, which has lost a lot of manufacturing work over the past decade. While it lacked the electric atmosphere of an Obama event, the crowd was receptive to most of Clinton's ideas. If nothing else, it's encouraging to know that Democrats of all stripes will be coming out in full force come November to defeat John McCain.

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US Rep. Baron Hill (IN)

post from Obama Endorsements on 30 April 2008 06:36:00 AM. © Obama Endorsements

Indy Star

Statement from Rep. Baron Hill:

Some have advised me to be cautious, to wait and see which way the electoral winds may blow.

I confess that I have listened to those voices and been tempted by their reasoning. But, the stakes are just too high.

We cannot continue to pursue the same politics of personal destruction we have engaged in for a generation, some never-ending ?groundhog day? endlessly playing out the cultural wars of forty years ago.

If we are going to develop real solutions for Hoosier families, for America?s families, we have to move past the partisan gridlock.

I believe both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama want to do that and I believe both are formidable candidates. But, I also believe that only one of them truly can.

I am proud of Senator Obama?s call for change in Washington ? change I have been advocating since I first sought public office. I am truly hopeful that his campaign and election will help unify our nation and ultimately change our politics.

I am pleased that Senator Obama clearly and unequivocally denounced Reverend Wright?s remarks. Hoosiers don?t feel that way about our country, I don?t feel that way about our country and Senator Obama made it abundantly clear that he doesn?t feel that way either.

His comments regarding statements made by Reverend Wright showed me another aspect of Senator Obama?s leadership ? a strength of character and commitment to our nation that transcends the personal. One of the tests of a true leader is his ability and willingness to come to a new conclusion based on new events. Senator Obama did just that yesterday.

I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with both Senators Clinton and Obama. Choosing between two worthy candidates was very difficult, but in the end, after much discussion with people in Southern Indiana, as well as mentors of mine such as Lee Hamilton, I have decided to support Senator Obama.

I believe Senator Obama has the capability to change the tone and tenor of politics in Washington. I believe that he can and will work with both parties and elevate the level of public discourse. Hoosiers are independent people who want to see civility and common-sense solutions implemented in Washington. Like us, Senator Obama strives to put the good of the country before the good of a particular political party.

As someone who has always worked in a bipartisan manner to achieve results, I know that we need a president who can bring people together and build consensus to move this country in a new and exciting direction. And that person is Senator Barack Obama.