When Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton stopped in Rapid City for a doughnut, she won Kyle Henderson's respect, but her brief pastry stop didn't sway the 20-year-old Democrat's loyalty to Barack Obama.

When Clinton returned Wednesday, the chance to see a presidential candidate lured Henderson and three friends to a chilly Memorial Park.

"South Dakota never gets this kind of attention," said Henderson, the only one of the four who is registered to vote in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

The Clinton campaign has pledged to bring a Clinton to South Dakota every day leading up to June 3.

Clinton told the crowd of almost 1,500 people who braved a cool, damp evening to hear her that they'll take part in a historic event.

"This is no ordinary election," Clinton said. "This is one of the most consequential votes you may ever cast."

Henderson heard her message and left Memorial Park undecided about how he'll vote.

"I'm more confused than ever now," the Box Elder man said after spending 60 minutes hearing Clinton. "I have to find out where Barack is going to be and listen."

Having already voted, Benita Wheeler of Rapid City was there "to watch and do a little yelling."

Wheeler, who recently moved from Montana, couldn't comment on the effectiveness of Clinton's 11th-hour push to win South Dakota voters, but she is a Clinton supporter.

"How could I not be?" she said. "I'm a card-carrying member of NOW. This is something I've waited a long time to see."

Lula Red Cloud of Hermosa spent most of Wednesday following the senator to Kyle and back to Rapid City. Clinton has a lot of support on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, she said.

"She's quite a woman," Red Cloud said.

Lawn chair in hand, Ella Keifert arrived early. Clinton is getting a "raw deal" because South Dakota's superdelegates have already pledged to Obama, she said.

"I hope this push will make a difference," Keifert said. The Obama campaign "think they have it sewed up," she said.

The down-to-the-wire race for the nomination finally gives South Dakota Democrats something to vote for, according to Erik and Mary Swanson of Custer.

"I've been voting here all my life, and usually, it doesn't make a difference, even if there is a Democratic candidate," Swanson said.

Clinton has their votes, but the couple drove up to hear her speak. The trip also gave their son Matthew, 10, a chance to "see a future president."

Sandra Seberger left Memorial Park on a mission to sway the state's superdelegates from their commitment to Obama. The delegates should have had the courtesy to wait and see the primary results.

"I'm upset about our delegates pre-judging," Seberger said. "I matter. This is my country."

Judy Olson Duhamel, a former chairwoman for the state's Democratic Party, said Democratic leaders may have committed themselves too soon.

"I think anyone here has to be impressed," Olson Duhamel said.

While Clinton spoke, Olson Duhamel scanned the crowd, observing people's reactions to the senator. Clinton delivered a plan with specifics that people heard, she said.

Clinton's repeated visits, along with those of former President Bill Clinton and maybe even her daughter, Chelsea, are catching attention, Olson Duhamel said.

"The heightened awareness and the delivery of concrete information is going to cause people to think," Olson Duhamel said. "And I think it will make a huge difference."

As Clinton lingered with the crowd to sign autographs and pose for photos, Olson Duhamel said the senator would be joining her at home later for a spaghetti dinner.

The Clinton surge in South Dakota "helps to energize" voters, former state Senator Sharon Green said.

"Hillary campaigns with joy, and people get swept up into it," Green said.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com.