Published: March 26, 2008 11:31 pm         

Area folks wait eagerly to see Clinton

Diana Farmer arrived at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and would have gladly waited into the late hours of Wednesday night for a glimpse of America’s 42nd president.

“We wanted front-row seats, maybe get to shake hands with him and get a picture with him,” said the Beckley woman, who had 16-year-old daughter Christina in tow. Farmer described herself as a supporter of Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.

“I want him to be back-up if she needs it. I wish he was still president. He was one great president. If he can’t be president, then I want what’s next to that, which is his wife. He has really good experience, and she would have someone excellent to back her up. She was also a wife for him and gave him support. Now he can give her the support she needs.”

D.J. Morgan drove from Oceana to hear and see Clinton. He concurred with Farmer’s concept of the former president serving as an adviser to his wife if she ends up occupying the White House. “You’re talking about a man with eight years of experience on the job,” Morgan declared.

“It would be nice to have that kind of adviser in the White House. I would like to see him advising her on certain issues. His input would be invaluable. He’s been there eight years. He’s been there and done that. I want to hear what they (the candidates) have to say until May 13,” Morgan added, referring to West Virginia’s primary date.

Beckley resident Kasey Voloski disagreed with Farmer and Morgan as to Bill Clinton’s role in a new Clinton administration. “I would like to see him take a back seat but offer a lot of support and help when she needs it,” she opined.

“She would do a very good job on her own. She’s very good politically and a very smart woman. She would do very well on her own. With all that happened, I think he was one of the best presidents we had. I loved Bill Clinton and all he stood for,” Voloski said.

Morgan and Voloski described themselves as respectively leaning toward Hillary Clinton and supporting her.

“William Jefferson Clinton,” Princeton resident Janeane Warren succinctly summarized when asked why she was in Beckley Wednesday. “I think it would be her (Hillary’s) turn. She’s waited 20 years to do it. He’s been good. He’s been good for the United States. I think Hillary has waited her turn. I support Hillary 100 percent.”

When asked about Bill Clinton’s role in a Hillary Clinton administration, Warren had a ready answer — “the new woman.”

Fayette County Circuit Clerk Danny Wright described himself as a “dyed in the wool” Democrat who would support either Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama — Clinton’s Democratic rival — in November. He also attended an Obama rally last week in Beckley.

“I think it’s time for change. It’s time to clean it up, and I think a Clinton or an Obama can do it. I am a Democrat supporter no matter who the nominee is in the fall. I think he’s (Bill) much more popular than the incumbent president and is an asset to any Democrat’s campaign,” Wright observed.

Davy McCombs traveled from Summersville to hear the former president. McCombs described himself as an “uncommitted” Democrat at this point in the race.

“Bill Clinton was a really good president, as far as I’m concerned, probably one of the best we ever had,” he asserted.

“We’re (he and wife Gloria) are here to help change. I think Hillary is a good candidate. I like Obama, too, but Hillary may have more experience. I think people look back at (Bill Clinton’s) presidency and what he did for the country and for the working man. I think they would consider him an asset. I know I sure do.”

Rachel Jennings of Grandview brought 7-year-old daughter Kelsi and 7-month-old son Levi to Wednesday’s rally for purely historical reasons. She denied any level of support for Clinton.

“I just wanted them (her children) to be able to see a former president for the historical aspect of it,” she explained.

— E-mail:

mhill@register-herald.com