Published: March 25, 2008 02:47 pm         

Clinton comes to town, tonight!

With Kentucky’s votes increasingly important in the upcoming primary, the Bluegrass State is getting a visit from a political giant. Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, will appear at a campaign rally for his wife, New York Senator Hillary Clinton who is seeking the office her husband had from 1992-2000, tonight at the Morehead Conference Center. The open-to-the-public rally is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m.

“Obviously this is big for the City of Morehead,” Mayor David Perkins told The Morehead News. “This is a big event for our community and there has been a lot of interest. Regardless of political affiliation, this is a relatively rare opportunity to see in person someone of such world significance.”

Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama are locked in a tight contest for the democratic nomination so Kentucky’s delegate count, generally considered an afterthought so late in the primary season, have become increasingly important.

Bill Clinton will visit four Kentucky cities today as part of the “Solutions for America” events. The former Commander In Chief was slated to begin his tour of the Commonwealth at the Frankfort Convention Center before visiting with veterans at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. Prior to arriving in Morehead, he is expected to speak in the Mason County Field house.

“This doesn’t happen every day and it’s very exciting that President Clinton will be in Morehead,” Michelle Bowling, a teller at Citizens Bank, said of the local event that will draw national attention. “This is history and our town gets to be a part of it!”

Clinton wraps up his day in Kentucky at the local rally. Details were sketchy at press time, but the event should last 15-20 minutes and as of late Monday no V.I.P session was planned. The rally is free and open to the public.

Currently, eastern Kentucky favors Hillary Clinton in the upcoming race where 59 delegates are at stake. The Kentucky primary is May 20. Arizona Senator John McCain has already garnered enough delegates in the national republican race and is the presumptive nominee for the GOP. The next test for the democrats is the big prize of Pennsylvania; that primary is April 22. West Virginia votes May 13.

Hillary and Bill Clinton have both criss-crossed the region in recent weeks; both appeared in southern Ohio prior to her win in that primary and she visited West Virginia last week and is expected to return to the Mountain State on Wednesday and will travel to Indiana on Thursday. According to sources, Hillary Clinton will be making stops in Kentucky also but no specific dates have been announced.