Ball State University freshman Chelsea Turner, 20, grasped her Polaroid camera as she scooted through Vera Mae's Bistro in downtown Muncie, waiting for singer and songwriter Carole King to show up.
"I learned of her when I was 7 and I've been in love with her ever since," the early childhood education major said.
Turner was one of more than 70 people who packed into the small restaurant to see the 1970s star, who was in Muncie on Tuesday to campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
"I love Obama," Turner said. "It's the best of both worlds."
For others, the celebrity's message about working women and families brought them to the speech.
"I bet I'd know her if I heard her songs," senior Amy Goodrich, a social work major, said. "My main purpose [for being at the speech] is that it's pretty probable I'm going to be working with women and families [in the future]."
However, King spent the majority of the half-hour speech addressing issues about how Republicans might feel obligated to vote against Obama because of his party affiliation and not because of his personal stances on policies.
"I live in a rural community," she said of her residence in Idaho. "I've had neighbors who say they are really sorry for voting for George W. Bush. I think some Republicans want to vote for a Democrat, but they are afraid to make the leap. It is possible to still identify as a Republican and vote for a Democrat."
King said she started the primary supporting Hillary Clinton, but supported Obama completely after he won the nomination.
"I'm very impressed with how he connected," she said. "He looks you in the eye. He's got presence in this state. (Republican candidate John) McCain, I don't think he has a presence in this state. I think he's relying on the Republican machine."
After her short speech, King invited the audience to ask questions. However, the highlight for audience members was to sing one of her chart-topping hits with her. The room rang as the group sang, "You've Got a Friend" in unison.
King is best known for her 1971 album "Tapestry," which sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. However, she and her husband wrote more than 100 hits in the 1960s such as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "The Locomotion".
Muncie was the second of three stops the singer made in Indiana on Tuesday. She also campaigned in Greenwood and Richmond.
Click here to see Carole King's appearance at the Vera Mae Bistro.
(Watch in high quality mode for better performance)
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