Clinton talks jobs on stump in Indiana

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., March 20 (UPI) -- Jobs were the focus for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., as she took her presidential nomination campaign to Indiana Thursday.

Clinton scheduled visits to Anderson and Terre Haute -- two formerly thriving-now-struggling industrial communities -- and a rally in Evansville in her first visit to the Hoosier State since May, The Indianapolis Star reported.

With Indiana's 72 Democratic convention delegates up for grabs in its May 6 primary, Clinton, her husband and daughter will be visiting the state several times, the Star said. Her rival, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., also will be visiting the state, his campaign said.

"People are looking for a president who's really going to do something to stop the loss of manufacturing jobs." said Robby Mook, state director for Clinton's campaign.

Indiana's unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in January, slightly better than the nationwide rate of 4.8 percent, figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate. However, some areas are lagging, including Terre Haute, with a January unemployment rate of 6 percent, and Anderson, with a 6.8 percent rate.

Obama also will focus on the economy and the war, a spokeswoman for Obama's campaign told the Star.