News

March 6, 2008

Hillary campaign stop possible this weekend

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton may be making her first presidential campaign stop in the region this weekend.

Mike Conner , assistant director of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, said the airport was alerted by the Clinton campaign Wednesday that the senator may visit the area this weekend. He was awaiting confirmation from the campaign.

It is not known if Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, would visit Wilkes-Barre or Scranton.

She has ties to the area. Her father, the late Hugh E. Rodham, was born and is buried in Scranton. The family moved to Chicago where Hillary was born in 1947.

“All we were told is that Sen. Clinton may be flying into the airport,” Conner said. “We know she will not hold a rally here at the airport but may be flying in and out.”

Since there is no presumptive winner in the Democratic race, Pennsylvania is playing a key role this primary season.

There has been no word on whether her opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, or the Republican candidate, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has plans to visit the region.

Mark Nevins, Clinton’s press officer in Pennsylvania, said Wednesday he has not received confirmation on Clinton’s visit.

“I don’t have any specifics when she will be there,” Nevins said. “All I can say is that it will be soon, very soon. The only reason I am reluctant to say more is that we don’t want a repeat of what happened today. Somebody apparently felt they had a story that Sen. Clinton was going to be in your area Thursday and felt they had it confirmed enough to go with. Sen. Clinton will not be in Scranton Thursday.”

The Pennsylvania primary election is April 22.

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