Clinton plans events in Ashland, Central Point

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a campaign stop at a train depot in High Point, N.C. on Monday. Elise Amendola | AP

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton will speak at a fundraiser in Ashland on Thursday and then appear at a scheduled town hall in Central Point later that night.

Julie Edwards, spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign in Oregon, confirmed that the town hall will be held at the Jackson County Exposition Park's Olsrud Arena with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the event starting at 8:30 p.m.

"We are so excited to get to Jackson County and to Southern Oregon," she said. "She will talk about Oregon issues like the county payments program."

The Olsrud holds about 1,200 people, said Expo Director Chris Borovansky.

To reserve tickets for the town hall, where Clinton will respond to questions from the audience, go to www.hillaryclinton.com/centralpoint.

The New York senator, who is running a close race against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination, is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser at the Ashland Springs Hotel Thursday afternoon. Those who pay $2,300 can meet for a half-hour with Clinton at 4 p.m. The main program costs $250 and starts at 4:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.hillaryclinton.com/southernoregon.

Last week, the Clinton campaign Web site announced former President Bill Clinton would hold a similar fundraiser at 1 p.m. in the same building and on the same date. But that appearance has been dropped from the site.

Former President Bill Clinton campaigns for his wife, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., at the Marion, N.C. train station on Sunday in Marion. Rick Havner | AP

Former President Clinton held a rally on behalf of his wife on March 30, drawing about 2,500 to the North Medford High School gymnasium.

Obama held a town hall at Kids Unlimited on March 22, speaking before about 2,000 people.

Milt Goldman, who heads the steering committee for the Clinton campaign in Jackson County, said this is an exciting event for Clinton supporters and he expects that she could easily draw 5,000 or more people from this area.

"They will come from Jackson and Josephine counties, from Northern California and the state of Jefferson and from the coast," he said.

Goldman, who has worked tirelessly at the Clinton campaign offices in Medford for weeks, said this has been a long campaign season.

"The prolonged primary — it's wearing on the candidates, it's wearing on the fundraising," he said. "It's wasteful."

He said the Democratic Party needs to come up with another solution. "A national primary is a logical answer to this problem," he said.

Paulie Brading, chairwoman of the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee, said Clinton supporters were hitting the phone banks Monday to let local residents know about the rally.

"I think they should be able to fill that (the Olsrud), but it's a problematic time," she said.

Brading said it will be a workday in the middle of the week, which may make it difficult for families with children. "It may dampen attendance," she said.

Clinton campaign officials wouldn't say why Bill Clinton's fundraiser was canceled, but Brading speculated that they changed their minds because ballots have already gone out in Oregon and it was important to get Sen. Clinton here in person, particularly with a tight race expected in Indiana and North Carolina.