SCRANTON — Sen. Hillary Clinton promoted her northeastern Pennsylvania family connections during a visit here Monday and fired up her supporters with vows to change the priorities of President Bush.

Three Monroe County activists who made the trip to Scranton High School were thrilled to greet the Democratic presidential candidate during a private, 80-person reception in the school cafeteria. That meeting, just prior to Clinton’s speech to hundreds of people in the gymnasium, also featured Gov. Ed Rendell and the mayors of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

“It’s exciting. I just shook Hillary’s hand,” Monroe County Commissioner Suzanne McCool said moments before Clinton’s speech. “She’s very charismatic. I thought she looked good on television, but in person she’s incredible.”

Said Ronnie Byrd, the Monroe County chairman of Clinton’s campaign: “It was worth the wait in gold.”

Monroe County Democratic Chairman Gratz Washenik said Clinton told reception attendees that she won’t forget the region if she wins the Democratic nomination against Sen. Barack Obama and captures the presidency in the fall.

“She said, ‘We may never have this opportunity again to have a president who’s so familiar with northeastern Pennsylvania,’” Washenik recalled. “This is where she wanted to start her Pennsylvania campaign.”

Clinton’s late father, Hugh Rodham, grew up in Scranton. Clinton was christened in a Scranton church and, as a child growing up in Illinois, vacationed each summer at the family cottage in nearby Lake Winola.

Earlier Monday, Clinton toured some of her favorite childhood hangouts, including an Old Forge pizzeria.

Clinton arrived for the reception at 5:30 p.m., spoke briefly to the activists and shook their hands.

By the time she walked onto the gym floor at 6 o’clock, the crowd was cheering and screaming while rock music played in the background.

She smiled broadly and clapped to the beat as several waved placards that read: “Hillary Smart Choice.”

One held a sign that said, “It’s 3 a.m.”, a reference to a campaign commercial in which Clinton contends she has the experience that Obama lacks to handle a presidential crisis. Another sign said, “Hill Yeah.”

“For me this is such a big part of my life,” Clinton said of her local ties. “The things on the minds of people here are exactly what I care about.”

She hit the major themes of her campaign in advance of Pennsylvania’s April 22 primary. This includes bringing home American troops from Iraq, enacting universal health care coverage, and creating jobs. She promised to rebuild roads, bridges and other public infrastructure while developing national energy independence.

“I’m convinced that solar and wind holds great promise,” said Clinton. She called for creation of a $50 billion strategic energy fund and said money for it would come from excessive oil company profits.
She said the U.S. has to catch up with the rest of the world — including India, China and Europe — by investing in science, technology and infrastructure.

Clinton said a woman she met in Old Forge told her that health insurance companies refuse to insure her two daughters because they have diabetes.

“Insurance companies can discriminate against sick people,” she said. “I think that’s wrong and it has to stop.”

Clinton promised more funding for education, with less emphasis on rote testing and more focus on skills that encourage future innovation.

She said she will reform “the strangle hold” student loan companies have on college students by pushing more favorable terms and forgiving the debt of those who enter public service fields.

Clinton said she will begin withdrawing troops from Iraq 60 days after taking office.

“Our young men and women have done everything they were asked to do,” Clinton said. “It’s time for Iraqis to step up.”

Clinton signed autographs following the 25-minute speech. She promised to return to Scranton on Saturday.

Byrd, the Monroe County campaign chairman, called it a great speech.

“She was on point about health care, about vets, about education,” Byrd said. “She hit it all and she will carry Pennsylvania.”