Pocono News Section

Campaign Preps in Wilkes-Barre

Campaign Preps in Wilkes-Barre - Monday, March 31, 2008 at 9:27PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday, Mar 31, 2008 @09:27pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Tuesday is a big dayfor the Diamond City. Once again the focus of the Democratic presidentialcampaigns is on northeastern Pennsylvania as Senators Barack Obamaand Hillary Clinton will speak at two Wilkes-Barre colleges.

Wilkes University students lined up forfree tickets to Senator Barack Obama's visit. Student Carl Santana wasfirst in line. He waited for more thanan hour. Santana said, “Justbecause I wanted to see all the presidential candidates. I've already seen Hillary'sspeech and Bill Clinton, and I want to see his, and hopefully McCain will comeby."

Senator Obama will speakto these students and more at the Martz Center on the Wilkes campus Tuesdaymorning. The gym can fit up to 2,500 people. The event is free, andstarts at 11:45, but you need a ticket.

The possibility of ahuge crowd has the campus buzzing. Wilkes Student Body President Matt Brown says, "The buzz has been pretty large on campus. It startedover the weekend, when we first got the official word that he's going to becoming, which is a huge thing for a small liberal arts school in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania."

And Wilkes won't be theonly small school targeted in the Diamond City. King's College will play host to Senator Hillary Clinton and her town hall meeting at 2:30. It's also free to thepublic, but you don't need a ticket.

It's titled solutionsfor the Pennsylvania economy, and studentshere are ready. King's College student LanceElliott says, "It's Wilkes-Barre, you don't hear thistown too much on the news, but it's awesome, it's really cool."

And Tuesday, all eyeswill be on two big campaigns, using two small colleges to gain momentum in thisimportant primary election.

You can pick up freetickets for Senator Obama's visit to Wilkes University at his campaign officeon South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Obama is also scheduledto speak at the Dunmore Community Center Tuesday afternoon. Ticketsfor that event are already gone.As a result of the two senators' visit, several streets will be closed to traffic or have parking restrictions. The information below is from city officials:

The Wilkes-Barre Police Department strongly recommends thatmotorists avoid the streets surrounding King’s College and Wilkes University between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

King’s College:

o Streetclosures will include:

§ Jackson Streetfrom Franklin Street to North Main Street

§ North Main Streetand others in the area may also be closed as necessary to accommodatepedestrians

o Parkingrestrictions, marked by the WBPD, will include:

§ No parking on Harrison Street

§ No parking on North Main Street in front of the King’s Collegegymnasium

§ Parking may be restricted throughout the campusof King’s College

Wilkes University:

o Streetclosures will include:

§ Barnum Placefrom Ross Street to South Street

§ The Ross Streetand South Franklin Streetareas may also be closed as necessary to accommodate pedestrians

o Parking,marked by the WBPD, may be restricted surrounding the campus of Wilkes University