Photo by Carsen Maciag/The Siskiyou
Spectators waited on the sidewalks of downtown Ashland for Hillary Clinton to arrive for a fundraising event at the Ashland Springs Hotel on Thursday.

Sen. Hillary Clinton attracted a multitude of people filling the sidewalks around the Ashland Springs Hotel Thursday, May 8.

Awaiting the arrival of the presidential hopeful, onlookers remained for as long as five hours before the motorcade arrived around 7 p.m. with the senator, whose appearance in Ashland was limited to a fundraising event within the hotel.

Though signs in support of Clinton being featured on the Democratic ticket filled the spaces above the crowd, many who were gathered expressed that while they may not be supporters of Clinton’s run for the White House, they were excited to see her nonetheless.

Ticket costs of $250 for admission or $2,500 for a VIP session ticket left many with only the satisfaction of being on the same block as the senator.

"I would prefer her coming to speak with a public audience," said Ashland community member Ed Mills, who felt that though fundraising was necessary in Clinton’s case, speaking to the common everyday citizen is what needs to be done if she intends to beat Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries.

Along with others, Mills expressed that Clinton doesn’t stand a chance against Obama, who, after winning North Carolina, looks to Oregon voters to potentially assure his placement in the November elections.

At a time when ballots have already been delivered to voters around the state, Clinton is calling for a debate with Obama, which would give her a way to provide Oregon voters with a clear understanding of the issues each candidate supports while filling out their pamphlets.

"A debate would be an awesome idea," said one SOU student who joined the crowd waiting for Clinton to arrive. With the final count of the Oregon primaries on May 20, the time for debate is nearing an end.

Another Clinton supporter expressed that "experience," something that many hold as the primary reason Clinton should represent the Democrats against the Republican candidate John McCain, is a very important issue and one that is sure to affect how she votes in upcoming elections.

The population of the crowd gathered downtown rose and fell as the expected arrival time of Clinton continued to be pushed back. Reaching its most populated period at little after 5 p.m., the numbers gradually fell as many aggravated onlookers retired away from the street when there was still no sign of Clinton at 6:30 p.m.

Without a win in Oregon, many feel that Clinton will have the impossible task of beating Obama, who is well ahead of Clinton as the primaries come near to closing in June.

After leaving Ashland, Clinton appeared at the Jackson County Expo at the Fairgrounds in Central Point to continue her campaign in Oregon.