U. S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s nostalgic trip to Fayetteville was brief but exciting for the 200-plus supporters who stood outside Gloria Jean’s Coffees on Dickson Street, cell phone cameras raised high, waiting to catch a glimpse of the presidential hopeful.
Clinton breezed through the coffee shop Monday, shaking hands, posing for pictures and stopping to sample the Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
“ I’m so happy to be back in Fayetteville, especially on Dickson Street, ” she told the crowd. “ The years I spent in Fayetteville were some of the happiest and best years of my life. ”
She was married here, she said, taught at the law school and became a part of the University of Arkansas community.
“ I met friends for a lifetime that have been there for me for many years, ” she said.
She also noted the changes on Dickson Street and complimented the renovation done on the Frisco rail depot that now houses Gloria Jean’s and Häagan-Dazs.
Franchise owner Steve Mansfield and Gregg House, with whom he co-owns the depot, said it was an honor to have Clinton visit the shop. Mansfield said someone from Clinton’s team called and asked if they would be willing to let the coffee shop be a campaign stop.
“ We’re very happy she was able to stop by, ” Mansfield said.
Mansfield said employees didn’t have to do much to prepare for the senator’s visit.
“ Her entourage took care of the details, ” he said.
Clinton spoke briefly about the presidential race, vowing to return to Northwest Arkansas during the campaign.
“ I’m excited about this campaign, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure to put Arkansas back in the winning column, ” she said. “ We’re going to win Arkansas and take back our country. ”
Clinton also stopped in Little Rock, where she addressed another crowd of supporters and received an endorsement from Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe.
Clinton said she is thrilled to have Beebe’s endorsement.
“ He’s done a wonderful job, ” she said. “ I’m so impressed with what he did for education. It really makes a difference. ”
While in Fayetteville, Clinton also visited with a large crowd of supporters gathered outside on Dickson Street, some chanting words of support and some just wanting to be a part of the excitement.
Recent Fayetteville High School graduate Corey Johnson said he attended the appearance because he was interested in seeing a candidate with a good chance of winning.
“ In the interest of civic duty, I thought I should go see a candidate if they are in a 50-mile radius, ” Johnson said.
Johnson, 18, said he has yet to register to vote but plans to do so well before election time.
“ I’ll vote for whoever gets the Democratic nomination, ” he said.
Some of the attendees were too young to vote but wanted to meet Clinton regardless.
Jonah Hyman, a fourth-grader at The New School, said he was grateful for the experience and the time away from class.
“ It was very exciting to shake hands with possibly a future president, ” he said.
Jonah’s father, Jeremy Hyman, said he wanted to bring his son to meet Clinton so he could get a real social studies lesson.
“ Rather than just have social studies at school today, he could see social studies in action, ” he said.
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