News
A LOCAL SPOT: Clinton shoots campaign ads in Washington Park
Journal Photos by Walt Unks
Hillary Clinton greets some North Carolinians picked to ask questions.
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Published: April 19, 2008
The Clinton campaign turned a Washington Park bungalow into the backdrop for the filming of a series of campaign ads yesterday that are aimed specifically at North Carolina voters ahead of the May 6 primary.
The owners of the house on Shawnee Street, Debra Taylor and Amy Wingrave, are ardent supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid and volunteered their house earlier this week for the shoot.
They were asked to keep Clinton's visit a secret, but it's hard not to notice Secret Service agents, a phalanx of shiny SUVs and a pack of police motorcycles on a street that's just one block long and in a neighborhood where news travels fast on foot.
Clinton was in Winston-Salem for an appearance at Wake Forest University with Maya Angelou, a friend and longtime supporter of the Clintons.
By 5 p.m., when Clinton came out of the house on Shawnee and settled into a seat on a picnic table in the backyard, a small group of onlookers had gathered across the street.
Laura Shirley, who lives in the neighborhood, brought her digital camera along and snapped pictures as the film crew worked. She wouldn't say whether she supports Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic primary.
"I don't want to say while Hillary is here," Shirley said. "I like both of them. Either one of them would be fantastic."
Deon and Julie Parker, who live across the street from Taylor and Wingrave, enjoyed the hubbub surrounding the campaign ad's filming, but said they haven't committed to any candidate in the 2008 presidential race.
"I can't say we're in love with any of them," said Deon Parker. "We're watching, we're watching. There's a lot of time left. There's a lot to take in."
The commercial campaign will feature several North Carolinians who had submitted questions to Clinton's Web site, www
.ncaskme.com, to be part of the ads, some of which could be run in the state as soon as next week.
The participants were chosen "for a variety of reasons," said Carly Lindauer, the campaign's communications director for North Carolina, but their questions revolve around issues that have come up frequently with North Carolina voters, such as health care, gas prices, the economy and veterans issues.
Lindauer said she wasn't sure how many ads would be produced from the taping session or exactly what they would look like.
After yesterday's filming ended, some of the neighborhood residents stood across the street long after the filming was over, hoping to greet Clinton.
They got their wish. One of them, Anne Sellitti, called out, "Love you, Hillary!"
The candidate turned, waved back and called out, "Nice to see you all!
"Thanks for coming!"
Then she turned away and climbed into a waiting silver SUV bound for her next campaign stop.
■ Michelle Johnson can be reached at 727-7373 or at mjohnson@wsjournal.com
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Consumery ) on April 19, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I met Hillary in W/S! She is a down-to-earth, compassionate and a very very intelligent woman! She does not dodge questions and has answers and plans! Soooo unlike Obama!
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