Barack Obama, Bill Clinton to visit Wabash Valley today

Abby Miller, a freshman political science and legal studies major, waited in a line of approximately 200 people for two hours Thursday to get tickets to see presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

Miller said she was excited to see Obama because he had visited her town in Illinois last year, but she couldn't go.

"I'm very excited I get to see him this time," she said.

Obama will be speaking at Terre Haute North Vigo High School Friday at 8:15 p.m. The doors will open at 6:15 p.m.

Tickets for the event were distributed at Meadows Shopping Center starting at 9 a.m. and were gone by noon, Obama's Indiana spokesperson Gannet Tseggai said.

The event will include an opening speech by Obama followed by a town hall question-and-answer period, Tseggai said.

Tseggai said it will be an opportunity for people to "engage directly" with Obama to discuss the issues facing America.

Obama is not the only politician to visit the area Friday.

Former President Bill Clinton will be stopping in Clinton, Ind., at 10:45 a.m. to give a speech on behalf of his wife Hillary Clinton at South Vermillion High School.

"I just know that it's not a coincidence they're speaking so close in terms of time and location," said Marcel Oliveira, vice president of the College Democrats.

However, Oliveira doesn't think the two events will compete for audience, he said, because people dedicated to seeing both speakers will go to both events.

Both high schools are preparing by having their buildings inspected by the Secret Service and planning to accommodate crowds.

"Our students are really excited about it," said Stacy Mason, vice principal of Terre Haute North High School. "They learn about government, but this is really bringing something to life for them."

Mason was unsure how many tickets the school would be allotted for the event, but students and faculty at Terre Haute South were able to sign up to be entered in a ticket lottery.

Phil Harrison, principal of South Vermillion High School, said his students will have reserved seating at the event.

"An opportunity like this doesn't fall in the laps of Clinton, Ind. very often, so we want our students to be there," he said.