Tunstall student enjoys meeting Clintons

By Darren Sweeney

Published: April 30, 2008

Tunstall Middle School student Taylor Mills got an early birthday gift Monday when she met Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her daughter Chelsea.

Mills, who celebrated her 12th birthday Wednesday, went to a Clinton for President rally at the Carolina Theater in Greensboro, N.C.

The sixth-grader at Tunstall Middle School went to the event with her mother and some friends.

“She’s the most famous person I’ve ever met,” Mills said.

Organizers billed the event as “Hillary Live” and tickets cost anywhere from $25 for students, $50 for general seating to $2,300 for “benefactors.” Mills was wearing a “Clinton for President” T-shirt and that helped the youngster stand out among the crowd of about 700.

Mills met Chelsea first. She commented on the T-shirt Mills was wearing as she chatted with her and other supporters.

“She was nice and happy,” Mills said. “She told me she liked my shirt.”

A few minutes later, Mills shook hands with Hillary Clinton as she worked the crowd. She said a lot of kids at school are envious that she met the former first lady.

“It was fun. It was very exciting,” Mills said.

Mills said Clinton talked about getting the U.S. out of Iraq.

She was impressed with comments the New York senator made about helping students get a college education. Clinton called for easing federal gas taxes to ease some of the burden on consumers.

Mills said Clinton reminds her of a president she has being studying in school — Franklin D. Roosevelt.

She said Clinton and Roosevelt share similar visions.

“He was a great president. I think she’s trying to bring some of that back,” Mills said.

Contact Bernard Baker at or (434) 791-7986.