"Why didn't Hillary come herself?" -- Bill Clinton's visit in Athens

Former US president Bill Clinton at the Athens Community Center this afternoon.

Waiting in line to see the show tonight...

The line in front of the Athens Community Center is long, going twice around the parking lot. But the individuals in it move forward pretty fast. After about 20 minutes of waiting in the chilly but bearable winter weather we and hundreds of other curious people flow into the gym.

It's lined with the typical dark blue Hillary Posters,

U2 music plays softly,

the media is lined up and ready to go.

More Hillary posters are distributed and become toys for some of the many children in the hall that is only filled to about three fourths of its capacity.

People pass time by two weak rounds of clapping hands, some dance a little.

Around 3.20 pm everyone screams and claps, hands with digital cameras shoot up: he's on stage, former US president Bill Clinton.

He says lines like: "If you vote for Hillary you'll determine the next president for the US" and "I wouldn't have been president if it wouldn't have been for the people in Ohio".

And continues: "America is back."

Bill Clinton: "Hillary will bring almost all of our troops home. She will be a good commander-in-chief and a good diplomat-in-chief." He speaks for about an hour until 4.15 pm but already during his speech people start trickling out of the Community Center.

Outside the building loud speakers were broadcasting Clinton's voice towards the people who had to stay behind the police line. Some were protesters.

Anna Antonetz and Neib Platt

Anna Antonetz and Neib Platt who came out early from Clinton's speech said they're still undecided. Platt came to get a better feel for the issues. "Clinton is pretty cool; that he came to Athens," says Platt. "He's a very good speaker, very intelligent."

Carolyn Richardson

"It's monumental, to have an ex-president in Athens," says Carolyn Richardson. She says what he says makes sense but she's not sure if his picture is not too idealistic: she thinks the government doesn't operate that way. "The Clintons have too much baggage to be effective because of the past. People have seen them so long and don't listen what they're saying only who's saying it."

Laura P. und Amanda Sharrei

Laura P. is still undecided after Clinton's speech for whom to vote. She came to get a variety of input and was impressed by his ability to articulate but it hasn't helped her in he voting decision. Also undecided is Amanda Sharrei. She says she's glad that Ralph Nadar is running as presidential candidate now. The event left her wondering:

"Why didn't Hillary come herself?"