Hillary Clinton supporters streamed into the Prado at the Balboa Park Ballroom Thursday morning to hear the leading democratic presidential candidate speak on national security to an invitation-only crowd.

Attendees lined up outside the venue as early as 8:15 a.m. for the 11:30 a.m. appearance.

Greg Lockyer, a retired sales and marketing man who lives downtown, was the first in line. He said he had tried to see the candidate at a recent appearance in Riverside but there was a line a “mile-and-a-half long” and he was turned away. He said he got to this event early so he could meet the former Secretary of State and possibly shake her hand.

“I’m impressed and in awe of her qualifications and what’s she done for women around the world,” Lockyer said, “I loved her as First Lady too,” he added.


When asked if he thought Clinton will win the election he replied, “Absolutely.” And as for her presumed GOP opponent Donald Trump? “I don’t think you can win an election if you divide people based on race.”

Ed and Judith Hayden of San Carlos were some of the first in line for the Hillary Clinton speech at Balboa Park. ( / Debbi Bakler)

Judith Hayden stood a couple of spaces behind Lockyer. Hayden, who is 75-years-old, said she wanted to be president when she grew up, but was discouraged because back then, she said, women were encouraged to be secretaries, not leaders of the free world. “She reflects my ideas,” Hayden said. “I hope she wins with all my heart.”

Her husband Ed agreed. As for Trump, he said, “I call him Don the Con.” Hayden said he was a former Deputy District Attorney and he used to “prosecute people like Trump.” “He would be a disaster as president,” he said.


There were just a few detractors on hand outside the venue on the bright, sunny morning.

Jim Boydston, a San Diego opera singer and Bernie Sanders fan, was there with a few others who “feel the bern” and one man toting a Donald Trump sign that featured a head shot of the businessman wearing a T-shirt that said “Trump kicks rump!” wandered through the crowd.