In campaign stops at N.C. State University, Peace College and UNC, the daughter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton made the case for her mother's presidential campaign.

During hour-long sessions, Clinton fielded wide-ranging questions from the audience at each event on such topics as the war in Iraq, the federal deficit and college aid.

On a question from an N.C. State student about the effect of the impeachment scandal on her mother, Chelsea's answer was similar to one she gave to a question at an Indiana college last week.

"It's none of your business," she said, sparking a wave of applause. "I'm sure there are things in your family that you don't think are anyone's business either."

Clinton brought a low-key style to her campaign stops Monday. Below, a few of the techniques she employed at events on three Triangle-area campuses and at a Young Democrats event Saturday in Research Triangle Park:

Be casual

Clinton skipped the lectern and gave a brief introductory speech before taking questions from the audience. Her language, too, was more personal than political.

At N.C. State, she referred to herself as "sort of a numbers dork." She frequently said "Oh, gosh," at the number of questions.


Note your age

Clinton made references to being young, although she didn't oversell it. More than once, she noted that at age 28, she feels old.

At the Young Democrats convention, she pointed out that her boyfriend, Marc Mezvinsky, was in the back of the room. At Peace, she noted that she now has "a boyfriend and a dog" and said that her mother hopes to be a grandmother soon.


Note the youth issues ...

Clinton mentioned issues important to young voters. Several times, she mentioned Hillary Clinton's proposals related to college aid: getting rid of the much-maligned Free Application for Federal Student Aid in favor of a checkbox on IRS tax returns, expanding student loans to cover graduate school and forgiving debt for students who take certain public service jobs.

On health care, she noted that many college students are uninsured during summer breaks. And when talking about border security, she pointed out that a proposed border fence with Mexico would cut through the University of Texas at Brownsville campus.