PORTAGE | Presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama gave Donna Mace a couple of kisses on the cheek and held her hand.

The 78-year-old Portage woman won't soon forget her lunch Wednesday at Schoop's restaurant on Willowcreek Road.

"I admire him. I'm honored I met him. He's a wonderful person. He's involved the young and old. He's got me excited about politics again," she said, comparing Obama to Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

Obama and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh stopped by the Portage eatery owned by Brad and Julie Sharp for about a half-hour Wednesday afternoon.

The stop was not announced by the campaign until late Wednesday morning. But the duo drew a crowd.

The diner was full, not only with national, Chicago and local media, but people like Mace and her family who saw the television trucks outside and stopped to see what was going on. As the event drew on, nearly 100 people stood outside waiting to get a glimpse of Obama and Bayh.

After spending time talking to people, shaking hands and having their pictures taken, the duo left, but not empty-handed. Obama ordered four cheeseburgers to go, two with mustard, lettuce and tomato and two with everything.

Chris Liechty, a Portage day care worker, got right to the point when Obama and Bayh came close to her booth.

"Is Mr. Evan Bayh your running mate?" she asked Obama.

"Evan Bayh is the senator of Indiana and my great friend who is supporting me in my campaign. I haven't made a decision yet," said Obama, barely taking a break in shaking hands with folks at the next booth.

Liechty and friend Susan Hendley came to Schoop's for lunch not knowing of the impending visit.

"It is unbelievable they'd come to Portage," said Hendley, a first-grade teacher who shook Obama's hand and exchanged words about children.

"That's a wonderful age. They are really sweet at that age," Obama told her.

Obama talked unions with Tony Capriglione in the next booth

"It was good to see him here," he said.

His son, also named Tony, was a little more excited.

"It's awesome. He will change this country and fix our economy. I'll be able to go to college," said the younger Capriglione, who's entering the eighth grade at Union Township Middle School.

Julie Sharp was surprised by the visit. She got no advanced notice until her employees called her at home and told her Secret Service members were doing a walk-through in anticipation of the visit. She was working in the yard and dropped everything to get to the restaurant.

"Of all the places to pick, they picked a little diner in town. But Evan Bayh said he's a big Schoop's fan," she said.