Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
Former President Bill Clinton started his campaign swing for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), in Havre this morning, saying she is the best candidate for the nation. “She is a change-maker,” he said. “I think you ought to have a change.” Bill Clinton said his wife’s plans, including universal health coverage, improving the United States’ diplomatic position in the world, remembering the common people in the country, balancing the budget and withdrawing the troops from Iraq are what make her the best candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Hundreds of people waited since early this morning to gain entry to the Montana State University- Northern gymnasium to hear Clinton speak. The crowd, including numerous school children from outlying areas, lined up from the doors out the university parking lot clear to 13th Street. Journalists reported the crowd's mood as patient, but excited. Clinton began the day meeting with special interest groups, such as a special address and listening session in private conference with area tribal leaders at 9:30 a.m. in Donaldson Hall on the MSU-Northern campus. Clinton entered the gymnasium for his public address at 10:40 a.m. Jim Potter, Montana State University-Northern public relations officer, said Monday afternoon he had been answering calls about the anticipated speech all day. “I’ve probably got a list of 20 in front of me that I haven’t gotten back to yet,” he said. Bill Clinton was scheduled to make his first public speech in the tour at Northern’s gymnasium with the doors opening at 9:45 a.m. Potter said Monday that the planning for Clinton's arrival had gone on all day, and included leaving the bleachers pushed in on the south side of the gym, with standing room on that side and seating on the north. The north bleachers hold about 1,200-1,300 people, and the total expected capacity is about 3,000, he said. The gymnasium was reported to be filled at 10:15 a.m. Preparations for the event were still under way late Monday afternoon. Hill County Sheriff Greg Szudera said at about 3:30 p.m. Monday that his office was providing an escort for Clinton from his hotel to the university, but he still hadn’t met with Clinton’s security. That meeting was scheduled for 4 p. m. Havre hotels were not owning up Tuesday to having hosted the former president. The AmericInn hotel in Havre is located closest to law enforcement agencies, however a spokesperson for the businesses said their policy does not allow staff to disclose who stays at the hotel. Havre Chief of Police George Tate said on Monday he had been meeting with Clinton’s security to plan his department’s role in the event. “Our primary role is providing security at the university,” Tate said. He said he had not been given many details about the visit, except for the security role he hadn’t even been told when Clinton would arrive, Tate said. “My understanding is he is supposed to be in Havre before the meeting and leaving sometime after,” he said. Tate said it is an exciting time for his department and for the community. “I’s not very often that a president, past or present, visits Havre, so it is a pretty big deal,” he said. Havre librarian Francine Brady said while researching old issues of the Havre Daily News she found that to be true. The last time Havre had a president in town was when Harry S. Truman passed through in 1952 on the train, she said, coming out on the platform for a few minutes. Truman, who was riding the train on a tour of the western states, also stopped in Chester for the dedication of Tiber Dam. According to the Truman Library and Museum Web site, Truman’s Montana stops also included Glasgow, Cut Bank and Belton on the western edge of Glacier National Park. Clinton is scheduled to speak at the Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls at 1 p.m., the Helena High School gymnasium at 3:30 p.m. and at Butte High School at 5:45 p.m. (See the Wednesday edition of the Havre Daily News for full coverage of the event.)
