Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and presidential hopeful for the 2008 election year, addressed a full crowd Monday evening at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The welcome was given by Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s wife Christy Vilsack.

Vilsack, who has been an adamant campaigner for Clinton, spoke of her experience working with the campaign and her previous support for Bill Clinton.

“I am ready for a woman president,” she said.

She also spoke of her interest in what Sen. Clinton wants to change, including health care, high quality education, renewable fuels, and a new environmental policy.

The microphone was then handed to Ruth Harkin, wife of the Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

“I am so proud to support her. America is ready for change; Hillary is ready to lead!” she said before exiting and handing the microphone over to former President Bill Clinton.

Bill, with a smile on his face, began with thanks to the crowd attending and then talked about his wife, their experiences together, and her journey to the White House.

In Arkansas, the couple began and started a legal service and upgraded education by starting a bill. They also visited 82 countries nationwide. He also expressed his experience watching Hillary deal with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks confidently.

“I would be here even if Hillary and I were not married,” he said.

The crowd roared as Sen. Clinton took her place a top a mass of Iowa hay covered in red, white, and blue and signs reading “Ready for a change! Ready to lead!”

Clinton then started her speech thanking Iowa for its warm welcome and support. She remembered going to her own state fair and felt she was in her own territory once again.

A speech about her history followed with references to her father and mother, who she said helped her become a leader by instilling in her the importance of the “greatest country in the world.”

She said health care was her first priority in her campaign. Her plan would allow a universal health care system that would allow men, women and children alike to be able to afford and access insurance. She said there are 47 million uninsured in America today.

“Help me get universal health care in America,” she asked the crowd.

Then she spoke about the need to get oil to be produced by the U.S., for the U.S. She said she disagreed strongly with what had been done in Bush’s terms and refuses to let it proceed. She applauded Iowa for its ethanol efforts, saying the state is so much more advanced than other states.

She said she had plans to raise the standard of living for people in the middle class.

Education in Iowa is known for success and quality. She spoke of her appreciation for successful education in Iowa.

“If we can help kids that are behind before they enter schooling, we can achieve much more,” she said. “I plan to fix No Child Left Behind, because money has been left behind with the Bush administration.”

College students were also addressed, as Clinton promised young adults to help lower education prices and raise the quality of education in higher education.

Lastly, Sen. Clinton talked about her hopes for returning our troops and ending the war. She then said a three-step process would cover her plan starting with bringing home servicemen starting as soon as she would enter office, then speaking firmly with the Iraqi government to end disputes and let them build their own governance, and finally, she would build alliances back up again.

“When I am president, we will rebuild alliances and relations across the world.” Clinton said. “I know how tough a job it is following the Bush and Cheney administration. I believe I am the best candidate and am the best qualified for the job.”

The evening concluded with a fireworks display afterward.