Matt Moore
Sen. Hillary Clinton visited Centennial Campus and the McKimmon Center Tuesday morning, where Gov. Mike Easley announced he will endorse Clinton in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Check out Clark’s blog on this event.
Easley made reference to one of Sen. Barack Obama’s slogans, “Yes, we can,” and said Clinton is in a better position to do well from the first day in office.
“That’s the difference,” Easley said. “She’s ready to deliver today.”
Easley is one of the superdelegates who could help sway the Democratic nomination to either Clinton or Obama. He said a big reason for his support of Clinton is her recognition of the importance of education in economic development.
Clinton took a tour of the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, where students have a chance to work hands-on with biotechnology, before Gov. Easley’s announcement.
The center’s director, Ruben Carbonell, and associate director, Rick Lawless, led the presidential candidate’s tour. Also in the group were Student Body President Jay Dawkins, Chancellor James Oblinger, Easley and his wife, Mary Easley.
Clinton discussed the technology and asked a variety of questions to Carbonell and Lawless. Carbonell mentioned some of the things she wouldn’t have time for on the tour, but quickly noted “you’re welcome to come back” to see the rest.
Dawkins, a junior in civil engineering, said he was honored to represent students on the tour. Though he’s the former chairman of the College Republicans, he said Clinton was “very nice,” especially about the University.
“She had very nice things to say about N.C. State, and she was pretty excited about the research we’re doing,” Dawkins said.
Less than an hour after the tour, speaking at a rally with a few hundred supporters at the McKimmon Center, Clinton marveled at the facility she had seen on Centennial Campus and praised North Carolina’s status on the cutting edge of biotechnology.
“North Carolina has made all the right bets and all the right investments,” Clinton said. “You are looking toward the future with confidence and optimism.”
Lock Whiteside, a graduate student in curriculum and instruction, had already voted early for Obama, but he still came out to see Clinton.
“Any time a candidate comes to our campus, I think it’s a big deal,” Whiteside said.
He added that he would support Clinton if she ended up winning the nomination.
“At the end of the day, I’m still a Democrat,” Whiteside said.