Clinton seeks votes and coneys

UPDATED 11:40 a.m.

Hillary Clinton is leaving Skyline now

Clinton, who is leading Obama in recent polls in Ohio, declared herself to be "the candidate of, for and from the middle class of America - the middle class that is the guarantor of the American dream - the backbone of America."

Clinton spoke for a little over an hour; then slowly made her way through the crowd, shaking hands and having her picture taken by one supporter after another.

UPDATED, 11 a.m.

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton, in front of a large and enthusiastic audience at an Oakley chili parlor said the difference between her and Barack Obama is that he "makes speeches'' while she "offers solutions."

"That's what we do that our opponent does not,'' said Clinton, who came to the Skyline Chili on Madison Road for a hurriedly-organized campaign event that was not on the schedule until late last night,

"I have a plan to deal with the foreclosure problem here in Ohio and cover every American with health care in an affordable way,'' Clinton told a crowd of about 200 jammed into every corner of the chili parlor. "Sen. Obama has neither."

Clinton entered the side door of the restaurant at 10:16 a.m. - about half an hour late - with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.

Mallory - a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention who is uncommitted and being courted by both campaigns - introduced Clinton to the crowd and then left the building with his staff.

He is to meet with Michelle OBama later today, before her rally at Music Hall.


UPDATE, 10:20 a.m.

Hillary Clinton entered the side door of the Skyline Chili at 10:16 a.m., followed by Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, to a tumult of applause and dozens of people trying to snap cell phone photos of the candidate in the packed restaurant.

Earlier:

Howard Wilkinson reports from a "jam packed" Skyline Chili in Oakley, where nearly 200 people have jammed in awaiting Hillary Clinton. A fire marshal just arrived to talk to the Secret Service folks.

While the crowd jammed into Skyline waited for Clinton's arrival - she was running late - Misleh's Sklyline staff was preparing 20 three-ways and about 60 cheese coneys - a to-go order for Clinton's staff and the traveling press

Howard's pre-Hillary early report:

Kam Misleh, owner of the Skyline Chili in Oakley where Hillary Clinton will hold an economic roundtable this morning, may miss a little early lunch business today, but he doesn't mind.

"It's pretty exciting,'' said Misleh, who owns six Skyline parlors in Cincinnati. "I'm happy to help."

The Clinton event wasn't on the official campaign schedule as of last night, but was pulled together quickly - probably in response to an announcement Thursday that Michelle Obama would attend a rally of supporters later Friday at Music Hall.

Misleh, who is also a member of the Madeira school board, said he got a call from Hamilton County commissioner David Pepper about 8 p.m. Thursday night asking him if the Clinton campaign could take over one of his Skyline stores for a while on Friday morning.

"I checked with corporate; they were fine with it, as long as it is clear that Skyline is neutral in this race,'' said Misleh.

Misleh said he told Pepper they could do it at any one of his stores. The Madison Road location in Oakley was chosen.

Clinton is expected to arrive about 9:15 a.m. for a quick roundtable discussion of economic issues with a group of supporters who were also contacted by the campaign last night. Then, she will head to northeast Ohio for campaign events there.

Jeanne Durbin of Madeira had been working as part of a Clinton phone bank operation all day Thursday, calling Democrats in Cleveland urging them to go out to a Clinton rally there later today. She was making the calls from her home last night at about 8 p.m. when the phone rang and Pepper was on the line.

"David asked me to come down this morning and be part of this,'' said Durbin, who was first in line early Friday morning. "I was thrilled to do it."

Tom Conlan Jr., a long-time Democratic party activist, brought his granddaughter, 11-year-old Morgan Bochenek of Mount Washington, a fifth-grader at Sands Montessori School.

"It's a civics field trip,'' said Conlan.

Morgan is a budding politician herself - she ran for class president last fall and lost a close election, but is gearing up for another race.

She is a Hillary fan.

"I think she is standing up for girls and I like that,'' Morgan said.

Skyline Chili normally opens at 10:30 a.m., and don't serve breakfast.

RESPONSE from Obama campaign:

"Instead of attacking Senator Obama, Senator Clinton should explain to people in Ohio why in 2001 she voted for a bankruptcy bill that would have made it harder for working families to climb out of debt. Senator Clinton now claims she's 'glad' it didn't pass, but people in Ohio would have been glad if she'd actually stood with them when she wasn't running for President."

- Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton