Clinton in Madison, Tackles No Child Left Behind, Apple Pie

Senator Hillary Clinton made Madison history this morning, becoming the first presidential candidate to visit our fair city since... well, since anyone I've talked to can remember. The last time any visit like this happened was President Nixon's visit to dedicate the Mundt Library back in 1969.

Senator Clinton made an "unplanned" stop at the Second Street Diner this morning around 10:00. ("Unplanned" evidently means the Secret Service guys come just a couple days beforehand to case the joint, according to Second Street Diner staff, who took some mirth in the efforts of slickly coiffed New Yorkers and others in nicely fitted suits trying to be inconspicuous in Madison.) She worked the crowd of about 100-150 diners who had come for breakfast and the worst-kept secret in town. Clinton addressed the crowd for several minutes, took a couple questions (including a tough one about No Child Left Behind, and she stood her ground!), then sat down for apple pie with some local folks. More folks lined up for handshakes, photos, and autographs (Elta Woodard brought her copy of Clinton's autobiography; my mom got an autograph on an ace of hearts she borrowed from the diner.)

And then, in the midst of rain and even a little hail ("We don't have weather like this where I come from," said one Clinton staffer -- he couldn't have been Secret Service, since he actually smiled), Clinton slipped out, and the bus rolled on to Clinton events in Huron and Watertown.

Speech highlights and more photos coming up!