By T.W. ALLEN
PDT Staff Writer

Hundreds of people gathered in the Riffe Center in the Main Rotunda at Ohio University Southern on Friday in Ironton to see New York Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The crowd was revved up to see and hear what the former presidential candidate had to say.

This was not the first visit to the area for Sen. Clinton. She made a campaign stop of her own in Hanging Rock in February to rally with supporters.

As a part of the visit, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland was on hand to introduce the senator.

"It's wonderful to be here on this wonderful day," Strickland said. He went on to point out that Clinton received a majority of the vote in the May primary in Lawrence County and Ohio. "We deeply appreciate that she (Clinton) is back here today working for Barack Obama and Joe Biden," Strickland noted.

"We are five days away, five days away from bringing to an end the economic nightmare that we have received from the (George) Bush, (Dick) Cheney administration," Strickland said.

"I'm so happy to be back here (Southern Ohio). We landed in West Virginia and drove across the bridge and the river looked great. I think this is one of the most beautiful places in our country.

When they (Obama Campaign) asked me to come back, I said yes," Clinton explained.

She explained her return to the area had something to do with the fact she received 79.6 percent of the primary vote for Ohio. "Some folks promised me 80 percent, so I'm still looking for the other four tenths of a percent."

"It was absolutely an honor to campaign across the great state of Ohio, particularly across Southern Ohio. I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people. I'm back here today because I want to finish the job," Clinton explained.

Clinton pointed out the fact her visit was on Halloween. "I thought maybe I should dress up today. I wanted to be something really scary. I thought, what would be so frightening that people would be scared of? then I thought I would dress up like George W. Bush," Clinton said. "Then I found out that John McCain already had that costume. That's the prospect of us getting out of this ditch the Republicans have driven us into," Clinton said.

She went on to say that trick or treat describes the election. She said that she does not want to be tricked again.

"We do not need any more tricks from the Republicans. We need a treat of real leadership that's going to put us back on track. We need someone who will partner with us in these hard times," Clinton said.

She described the country's economic situation as a tragedy. She said the country is going to have to come up with smart ideas to get beyond the current situation.

"It's important that we do what we can to help people help themselves. Folks are not asking for anything other than just a helping hand from time to time. We have not seen much of that under the Bush administration. I think we are really ready for a change," Clinton noted.

Clinton urged those in attendance to get out the vote on Tuesday.

"I want to encourage everyone who supported me to please go out and vote for the Obama, Biden ticket," Clinton said.

"There is nothing we cannot do once we make up our minds to do it and I have no doubt that America will once again rise from the ashes of the 'Bushes'," she said.

Clinton said that she has been traveling across the country on behalf of the Obama campaign and she keeps hearing people ask other people the same question: "Who are you for?"

"I think that's the wrong question. I think people should ask, 'Who is for you, and what you need? And who will work for your job and for your health care,'" Clinton said.

"We only have a few days left and it's been a long campaign. We are nearly at the finish line. Lets not rest until we cross that line. Because after all, it truly is about all of us here and particularly about our children and grandchildren. America, this is our time. This election is a transformational moment in American history," Clinton concluded.