UPDATE: Hillary Clinton Speaks at Laffoon Dinner

MADISONVILLE -- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was introduced to the crowd at this evening's Laffoon dinner by former Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan. Lundergan referenced the Clinton family's history working with the Democratic Party in the state as reason for supporting Senator Clinton in the May 20 Democratic primary.

"When we started this effort to rebuild the party, we called on two of our dear friends to help us – President and Senator Clinton," said Lundergan. "We called on them[...]and they helped us raise over a million dollars. They didn’t ask for a penny. It's time to repay the debt. Let's send [Clinton]on to Denver with the largest amount of delegates from any state."

As Clinton took the podium, she referred to another chapter of the Clinton's history in Kentucky - her husband's success in taking the states electoral votes in 1992 and 1996.

"As you know, this state has voted for a Clinton before – twice, in fact," said Clinton. "Together, once again, we are going to turn the bluegrass state blue."

Update 8:55pm CST - Clinton took the stage with Governor Beshear, Kentucky's First Lady Jean Beshear, Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Moore, Lundergan, Hopkins Party Democratic Chairwoman Brenda Glover, and Madisonville Mayor Will Cox.

Beshear, who earlier announced he was undecided in the Presidential contest, stood at Clinton's side as she was introduced but then left the stage.

Update 9:03pm CST - While her speech has hit on many of the same topics the campaign has stressed throughout its run, Clinton included some references to issues particularly pertinent in Kentucky.

Like Beshear earlier in the evening, Clinton spoke of "clean coal" technology and the potential it could have in future energy projects.

"I want to keep coal as a major part of our energy creation, but its gotta be cleaned up and we gotta be at the forefront," said Clinton. "If we take a new approach with this technology, we can export it across the globe.”

Clinton also generally called for higher safety standards for miners.

Update 9:09 CST - Clinton again took a swipe at the Obama campaign regarding its past communication with the Canadian government on the Illinois Senator's position on NAFTA.

"We will re-negotiate NAFTA," said Clinton. "When I tell the people of Kentucky I am going to fix Nafta, I mean it. I am not going to tell you people one thing and tell a foreign government something else.”

Update 10:18 CST A sizeable portion of the crowd in the packed Madisonville North High School gymnasium has remained standing throughout the Senator's speech.

Towards the end of her forty-three minute speech, Clinton acknowledged Republican nominee John McCain as "a good man" but criticized his campaign's proposals about the economy and Iraq.

"It's as if the 3 a.m. call came to the White House, and it was on the economy, and he just let it ring."