<I>Elane Dickenson/Chieftain</I><BR>T-shirts and buttons were offered to Hillary supporters in Pendleton.

Bill Clinton proved he could still charm the crowds wherever he appeared in Eastern Oregon over the last two days.

The former president drew a crowd of over 500 at the Helen McCune Recreational Center in Pendleton Sunday morning, and twice that number in Baker City as he toured the small towns of the state.

Clinton praised wife, presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, as the woman who could bring back the troops, turn the economy around, solve health care issues and boost “green” business. In Pendleton he was met with cheers and posters in support of Hillary read “Hillary – A Mother and President of our Country,” “Vote Green, Vote Hillary,” and “Let ‘er buck Hillary.”

In Baker City 1,000 people braved the cold and the wind to stand on the Baker County Courthouse steps and laugh and cheer as he described Hillary as a champion problem-solver.

Ultimately, however, he said the power was with the people – “It’s not about her or her opponent, it’s about you,” he told the Baker assemblage.

That sort of message typically goes over well in small-town America, where presidential candidates – or their spouses – are rarely seen. And the good regard generated in such corners seems to spread statewide. According to a Clinton aide, the Clinton small-town tour strategy was suggested by the success the duo achieved by hitting the small towns in Pennsylvania. The Oregon Tour included Pendleton, Baker City, Redmond, Portland and Gresham on Sunday, and five more stops along the Oregon coast and Willamette Valley on Monday.

Keith and Janice Bird, owners of M. Crow and Company General Merchandise in Lostine, were present at the Baker City gathering and Janice was able to meet the former president.

“He’s larger than life,” she said. “He was totally there for Hillary, it was not about him at all; it was totally about her and what she could do. It was pretty impressive.”

Clinton stopped to talk to Bird and several other women that comprised a small group, shortly after his speech as he was greeting people in the crowd.

“He told us it was up to us – those of us in the rural community – to talk to everyone and get them to vote for Hillary,” Bird said. “It was a great Mother’s Day present for me.”

Hillary Clinton was in Portland May 11 to visit Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at Oregon Health and Sciences University and discuss her universal health plan.

Sen. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton’s opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination, was also in Oregon on Friday and made three appearances.