Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton met with about 30 supporters this morning at The Peabody before heading to Monumental Baptist Church to address the congregation of Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles.

Clinton, wearing a royal blue pantsuit, told the group she was glad to be back home and was happy to be campaigning in Tennessee and Arkansas. "Now, let's take some photos," she said.

Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, state Sen. Beverly Marrero, state Rep. Jeanne Richardson, County Commissioner Deidre Malone and Property Assessor Rita Clark mingled with supporters waiting for Clinton in the Barclay Room. Clinton spent last night at The Peabody after campaigning in Nashville.

Marrero and Richardson said they are endorsing Clinton and will make an official announcement as early as Monday.

"Meeting Clinton is one of the most wonderful things that ever happened to me, period, end of story," Richardson said afterward. "She is such a great role model for everyone, but particularly for women."

Marrero said she told Clinton she is in the state Senate, a job she finds "exciting and challenging." Marrero said Clinton told her, "That's what I've found."

"She's a pretty charming lady," Marrero said. "All of us who have girls are excited to see a woman in this situation, that we think will be elected the president of the United States in the fall."

Mediator Jocelyn Wurzburg, Happy Jones, Rudi and Caryn Scheidt, Karen Shea, Dr. Nancy Chase, David Cocke, David Upton and Janann Sherman, among others, posed with Clinton in front of a potted plant.

Shea said she presented Clinton with an evening bag featuring a photo of a young Elvis Presley. Shea said the bag was "studded with diamonds - ha." She told Clinton the bag was a good luck charm for winning Tennessee.

Others asked Clinton to sign copies of her books. Clark asked the senator to sign a photograph of Bill and Hillary Clinton taken when he ran for president in 1992. "We were so young," Clinton exclaimed.

Organizer Kimberly Nichols, who was joined by her mother Jean Nichols of Clarksville, said after the event that about 30 people paid the $1,000 minimum to meet and have a photo taken with Clinton. Elected officials were invited by the campaign and did not have to pay. The event was closed to the media.

As she left the fundraiser Wurzburg said she will support "any Democrat who's nominated, but right now our country needs competence. I think the others are competent, but I know she is."

"I was impressed with her energy and charm," said Jones.

After leaving the group on the third floor, Clinton exited through the lobby of The Peabody moments before the daily march of the ducks from the elevator to the fountain.

The crowd in the lobby "half expected" the senator to appear because of all the Secret Service agents present, said Richard Coggins of Oxford, England.

Coggins, now a college instructor in Folsom, Mo., said in 1994 he saw Bill Clinton receive an honorary doctorate from Oxford, where the former president studied while a Rhodes Scholar. Coggins was in Memphis with Lisa Sanders to sightsee. They joined dozens of tourists waiting to see the ducks.

Coggins and Sanders said the duck march drew more interest than the senator's exit. "There were mad camera flashes for the ducks," Sanders said.

Posted:  29th. January 2008