Hillary Holds Court in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 27, 2007 — -- They had to hold the basketball games earlier than usual on Friday night at East High School in Des Moines, Iowa, so they had time to prep the gym floor for a VIP visitor.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will hold court on the basketball court. In a setting reminiscent of President Bush's town hall meetings, the former first lady will stand on a riser in the center of the floor, surrounded by hundreds of Iowans in a circle around her.

But unlike the White House events, Clinton campaign workers say attendees will not be pre-screened in any way. The floor is open to any question any voter wants to ask, they said.

Campaign officials expect more than 800 people to attend the mid-day event. A capacity crowd in the East High School gymnasium would be 1,400. There will be six microphones circulating through the crowd for people to ask questions of the senator.

For days, tickets have been available to anyone in Des Moines. Hillary Clinton recorded phone calls -- called "robo-calls" -- asking Iowans to turn out for the event. As long as there is space, organizers plan to allow even unticketed voters to attend.

"I am just so happy to be here," Clinton said on her arrival in Des Moines late Friday. "I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and making some new friends."

The center riser is framed by maroon velvet ropes. The U.S. Secret Service at one point wanted to put metal gates around Clinton, but her staff requested the ropes as a friendlier, less ugly alternative.

Unlike most candidates for president, Clinton already has Secret Service protection at this early stage because of her status as a former first lady.

Camera risers are set up for the sea of press expected to attend. Crews from all over the world will be covering Clinton's first trip to Iowa.

Will Clinton face tough questions about her position on the Iraq war? Perhaps: A large anti-war rally is planned in Washington, D.C., today, and demonstrators are holding smaller events in cities across the country. One of them happens to be at a separate location in Des Moines at the exact same time Clinton appears.