Former President Bill Clinton makes remarks during a campaign event for his wife, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., in Bethlehem, Pa., Wednesday, March 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Story Created:
Mar 21, 2008 at 9:06 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 22, 2008 at 2:55 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND — A 78-year celebration is expected to draw several thousand more people this year.
President Bill Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea, will make stops at two Dyngus Day celebrations in South Bend Monday.
Former U.S. Congressman Tim Roemer will also be making stops for Barack Obama.
People on South Bend's west side are preparing themselves for as many as 6,000 people.
Juan Hernandez lives across the street from the West Side Democratic Club, giving him a front row seat for the Dyngus Day activities.
"It used to be bad back in the '60s, but lately, it has been pretty nice here," said Hernandez. "It has quieted down a lot. By 10 o'clock, it is all over."
That could change with President Bill Clinton and Chelsea stopping by. Police say people will have to park farther away to ensure there's enough space for emergency vehicles to pass through the narrow streets.
"There will be a lot of people that come out here," said Fran Young who lives down the street from the Democratic Club.
And people are already cooking inside the club.
"We are trying to avoid the fiasco we had last year with long lines," said Tim Hudak, president of the West Side Democratic Club.
That may be difficult if an additional 3,000 people come to see the Clintons.
"There are so many unknowns and so many variables. We have to go on with what we normally do, and we just have to make the best of it," said Hudak.
The Democratic Club is clean and posters are in place, but neighbors say outside doesn't look as nice and hope the visit will change that.
"The truth is, if a lot of people come, maybe they will start fixing stuff up around here, once they see how bad it's getting," said Young.
After all, neighbors say both campaigns are promising change.
President Clinton and Chelsea will be at the West Side Democratic Club at 11:30 a.m. Monday. From there, they'll go to the Elks Lodge on Western Avenue for Solidarity Day.
At 3:15 p.m., President Clinton will attend a rally at Rochester Community High School before continuing on to Logansport and Lafayette.
The Democratic Party has hung Clinton - Bayh posters inside the West Side Democratic Club. Party leaders say this is not an official announcement; merely a suggestion.
Former Congressman Tim Roemer will attend some of the same events for Barack Obama's campaign. He will be at the West Side Democratic Club at 11 a.m. and the Elks Lodge at 2 p.m. He then goes onto M.R. Falcons on Keller Street at 3:30. At 4 p.m., he will be at the Firefighters Hall on Lincoln Way West.
