MERRILLVILLE | Hundres of people lined up outside Merrillville Fire Station No. 2 early Monday afternoon awaiting an appearance by U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Clinton's 3 p.m. appearance is intended to kick start canvassing events across the state in anticipation of Tuesday's Democratic primary election.

Local organizers prepared Clinton signs and literature for volunteers to pass out during the canvass.

The mounting crowd temporarily slowed traffic along Taft Street, where organizers began allowing people into the station just before 1 p.m.

Merrillville firefighters sat atop a fire truck as a growing crowd filtered into the station's garage.

People from as close as the next door senior center and as far away as Pennsylvania come to the event to show their support for Clinton.

Jackie Bradas of Merrillville said she plans to vote for Clinton Tuesday and said she is ready for a woman in the White House.

"It's about time we have a woman president," Bradas said.

Guy Wiederhold, a union representative from Pottsville, Pa., said he thinks Clinton has a "very good" chance of winning Indiana in Tuesday's primary.

Wiederhold, a member of AFSCME District Council #89, and other Pennsylvania union members arrived in the Region Friday and plan to campaign here for Clinton until at least Wednesday.

Clinton's opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has his wife stumping for him in Gary later today.

Michelle Obama's event will start at 9:15 p.m. at the West Side High School auditorium, 900 Gerry St., hours before Indiana voters go to the polls. The event's doors open at 7:45 p.m., according to a press release. The event is free and open to the public and people will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. People are encouraged to RSVP at www.barackobama.com, according to the release.

Television Judge Glenda Hatchett will visit neighborhood canvassing events for Obama in Gary on Tuesday. Hatchett will start at 7:30 a.m. at Dollie's Restaurant, 1801 Grant St. At 9:45 a.m., Hatchett will visit the Delaney projects, 913 W. 22nd Place, according to the release. Hatchett will move at noon to Davis Seafood, 3405 W. 15th Ave., according to the release.