EUGENE, Ore. - Mark Turner got his spot to see Sen. Barack Obama at 2 p.m.

"I got here early because I knew it would be hard to get in close," Turner said.

"Oh, yeah," the Salem resident added, "and then they kicked me out - after the line was gigantic."

Gates to the cordoned off Memorial Quadrangle opened around 5:30 p.m. Hundreds of people packed together between the library and the art museum on the University of Oregon campus to await Obama's arrival.

"I actually volunteer with the Obama campaign in Portland," said Rob Eaton of Portland. "I came down here for the show."

The crowd packed close to the stage to await the candidate, making people fast friends - and partners in political discussions.

At the top of the list: whether Sen. Hillary Clinton should remain in the race.

"I think she should stay in until there's a majority of pledged delegates," said Lonnie McCulloch of Eugene, "which from what I hear might be Oregon."

Eaton disagreed, sporting an "I ALREADY voted for Barack Obama" sticker. Because of Oregon's vote-by-mail elections, voters can cast their ballots at any time until 8 p.m. on May 20.

For Turner, who passed by Obama's Albany appearance en route to Eugene, Clinton is welcome to stay in the race.

But he wonders whether she should.

"She has every right to continue to the very end," he said. "It doesn't help anybody, but she has every right to do it."