Jane Pauley visited Warsaw Wednesday to speak about the economy and why she thinks Barack Obama will make the most effective president if he is elected.
Pauley is best known as a long-time morning co-host on NBC's "Today Show," an NBC news reporter, and most recently as a co-host for NBC's news magazine "Dateline."
She spoke to a group of 50 people at the Democrat headquarters in downtown Warsaw.
Pauley, who said she is a volunteer with the Obama campaign, spoke about the economy and why she supports Obama for president.
"I came home to visit Indiana because I am scared about my country's future and I believe in Barack Obama," Pauley said.
She said Republican Presidential candidate John McCain prides himself on being a leader who makes decisions based on his instincts.
"He's a good man and I admire him a great deal, but I'm afraid his instincts aren't as good as they used to be," Pauley said.
She said she was raised in a Republican home, but she thinks her parents would have been heartbroken to learn of the deficits that the current administration has run up.
"These are hard times for a lot of Hoosiers, people are finding a lot of holes in their safety nets," she said.
Pauley said she visited Indiana because she thinks the state could be instrumental in electing Obama.
Freida Helm, Warsaw, said it was her second time for seeing Pauley.
Helm said her daughter received a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in 1996 when Pauley received an honorary degree.
"Jane hasn't changed a bit. She is as elegant and dignified as she always has been," Helm said.
Steve Haines, 3rd District Democrat chairman, said he was pleased Pauley was able to visit Warsaw.
"It was incredible Jane visited Warsaw because it shows our town is influential in the Democratic party race," Haines said.
David Hayslip, an Elkhart Gulf War veteran, spoke about how the economy is affecting his life.
Hayslip, a father of six children, was laid off three times this year. He previously worked in Recreational Vehicle conversion and manufacturing and as a machine shop auto supplier.
Hayslip said he is behind on his mortgage and is covered under his previous employer's insurance for two more weeks. He said he is not sure what he will do after he is no longer covered under his previous employer's insurance.
Hayslip said he thinks Obama can work to turn the economy around.
Pauley visited South Bend last week and made stops Wednesday in Plymouth and Warsaw. She is scheduled to speak in Fort Wayne today.
Mike Collins, former WNDU reporter, anchor and news director and WSBT news anchor, introduced Pauley.
For the past 26 years, Collins has been a public address announcer at Notre Dame stadium. He now has a Web site where he posts political commentary at www.mikecollinsnews.com
Pauley was born in Indianapolis and earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1971 from Indiana University. She earned a journalism degree from DePauw University in 1978.
She is married to Gary Trudeau, the cartoonist behind "Doonesbury."
Pauley's career began at the age of 21, when she was hired as a daytime and weekend broadcaster at WISH-TV in Indianapolis.
Four years later she was appointed as the first woman to anchor the evening news at WMAQ, Chicago.
Pauley was selected in 1976 to interview as a possible successor of Barbara Walters as Tom Brokaw's co-host on NBC's "Today Show."
Competing with reporters, Linda Ellerbee and Betty Rolin, Pauley was chosen for the position.
