By VICKI URBANIK

Hillary Clinton’s campaign stop on Saturday marked the first time in 40 years that a presidential candidate visited Porter County, and, judging by the enthusiastic turnout, it was a momentous day indeed.

The line outside of Washington Township Elementary School snaked around the entire building. Some of the people waiting to see the former First Lady said they started lining up about five hours before Clinton’s scheduled appearance.

The day was cold, wet and dreary. Just minutes before Clinton took the stage, people were still streaming in – shivering and soaked from their wait outside.

But things got warm and cozy in the school gym pretty quickly.

Even a few audience members who admitted privately that they were not Clinton supporters said the day was historic and cause for celebration.

The crowd included a large union contingent and a large teacher constituency. Plenty of local and regional elected officials were on hand. Among those in the crowd were youth, including a group of Washington Township seventh graders who held hand-drawn signs in support of Clinton, and seniors, including one 88-year-old woman who told Clinton she considers her as her own daughter.

Former Valparaiso mayor David Butterfield was all smiles as he was asked what the day meant for Porter County.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing for our county,” he said. “Regardless of who you support, regardless of your political persuasion, it’s a great thing.”

Valparaiso resident David Remijan said he’s “never voted Democrat in my life” but that he backs Clinton. A veteran, Remijan said he can respect presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and his service to the country, but that he, along with Democrat Senator Barack Obama, don’t have what it takes to be Commander in Chief.

“I think Clinton is the only person who’s courageous enough to stand up to foreign (leaders),” he said.

Chesterton High School teacher Hilda DeMuth Lutze was nearby with her daughter Elena. She noted that her other daughter, Katrina, went to see Obama at his stop last week in Gary.

“We’re here to support the Democratic Party,” Lutze said. “It’s really exciting that young people are getting involved in this election.”

Posted 4/14/2008