BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATHENS, Ohio -- Friday is a homecoming of sorts for first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
For the fourth time in six years, Ohio University students and residents in this heavily Democratic county in southeastern Ohio have set out the welcome mat for Mrs. Clinton. Visits in 1992 and 1996 set records for the largest crowds the first lady has drawn on the campaign trail, said Susan Gwinn, chairwoman of Athens County's Democratic Party.
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland is hoping for a repeat performance Friday.
Mrs. Clinton will speak on his behalf in Athens three blocks from Ohio University and its student body of 19,000.
Two years ago, Athens County was key to Mr. Strickland's victory over incumbent Frank Cremeans in the 6th Congressional District. While Mr. Strickland lost the other 13 counties in the district by 1,026 votes, he carried Athens County by 7,122 votes.
Stumping by Mrs. Clinton may be enough to energize Democrats and give Mr. Strickland an extra push in this year's heated battle against Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister, said Alexander Prisley, an associate professor at Ohio University and chairman of the Athens County Board of Elections.
"This county is vital to winning the race," he said. "Students are the ones who put Strickland over the top last time. We're a Democratic island in a Republican sea."
Mrs. Clinton is a better choice than her husband, Mr. Prisley said. A visit by the president in the midst of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and talk of impeachment might have attracted protesters, while Mrs. Clinton can draw on the sympathy of voters, he said.
Although Mrs. Clinton's 1996 campaign rally attracted 22,000 people, Mr. Prisley expects lighter crowds Friday. Without a presidential election, he doubts as many students will walk the few blocks to the Armory, where Mrs. Clinton will speak during the 5 p.m. outdoor rally.
Despite Mrs. Clinton's past popularity with students and residents, Rachael Sweeny, spokeswoman for the Hollister campaign, said she predicted Mrs. Clinton's visit will not affect the race.
"I don't know that it's going to sway anyone who's undecided," she said. "I don't know if having one nationally known visitor will have an impact on the campaign."
Mrs. Clinton joins a string of notable Democrats and Republicans -- including U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt -- who have campaigned in the 6th District. The race has attracted national attention because it has changed hands every two years since 1990, each time by a margin of 2 percentage points.
