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GREENSBORO — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed a "holiday" from the federal gas tax as she made campaign stops in North Carolina on Monday, including a fundraiser held at the Carolina Theatre.


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"I would also consider having a gas tax holiday this summer because we're going to drive a lot of small independent truckers out of business," Clinton told a crowd of about 700 in Greensboro, who had each paid at least $25 to hear her speak.


Tickets for the event went for as much as $2,300, and those who paid more got face time with the New York senator, who is campaigning against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.


Early in the day, she spoke at a firehouse in Graham and was more explicit about the proposal, using it to criticize both Obama and the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.


McCain has already floated a gas tax holiday that would provide savings for small businesses and families during the three summer months. However, McCain does not recommend how to pay for the break, which Clinton called "unwise."


Clinton would pay for her plan by temporarily taxing what she described as "windfall" profits of large oil companies.


Drivers pay 18.4 cents per gallon federal tax on gasoline, 24.4 cents for diesel fuel.


She chided Obama for dismissing the gas tax as a "scheme" that would divert money from needed transportation improvements.


"This is one of the biggest differences in this race. My opponent, Senator Obama, opposes giving consumers a break on the tax, the gas tax. I support it. I understand that the American people need some relief," Clinton said in Graham.


During a campaign stop in Wilmington, Obama said Clinton's proposal would do little to help average North Carolinians, saving most people only $30 over the course of the summer.


"Senator Clinton's proposal is a Washington approach that does more to score political points than solve our energy problems," said Obama spokesman Dan Leistikow. "And it could cost North Carolina up to 7,000 construction jobs while failing to get relief directly to the consumers who need it most."


However, with gas prices projected to rise to $4 a gallon this summer, political observers say Clinton's proposal is a savvy political play.


"Saying that gas prices resonated politically is an understatement at this point," said Steven Greene, an associate professor of political science at N.C. State. "You drive down the road and see $3.60 at the pump, it's everywhere. So it's good politics."


Clinton's appearance at the Carolina Theatre has been her only stop in Greensboro this campaign season, and with eight days to go before the May 6 primary it may be the only one.


Although she has appeared in Winston-Salem twice, and her top surrogates such as former President Clinton have been in town, Greensboro residents who wanted to see the candidate herself in their hometown had to shell out a campaign donation.


Clinton told her Greensboro audience that the donations she received for Monday's event were "welcome and necessary."


Although Clinton got a boost in campaign donations after her win in the Pennsylvania primary last week, she trails Obama in spending and fundraising overall.


"It's hard to get a handle on what their financial situations really are on the fly," Greene said of the two presidential candidates, noting that official reporting only happens on a periodic basis. However, he said "to some degree, (Clinton) needs every dollar she can get."


Clinton trails in North Carolina polls by 10 or more points, and political observers say it will be hard for her to bridge that gap with little more than a week to go before the primary.


Her campaign is expected to get a last minute boost from Gov. Mike Easley. The Associated Press reported Monday that the popular two-term governor and superdelegate was poised to endorse Clinton at an event in Raleigh today.


Aside from brief meetings with higher-dollar donors, Clinton's appearance at the Greensboro fundraiser differed little from her appearances open to the nonpaying public. She chided Obama for not wanting to debate in North Carolina, pledged to provide universal health insurance and said she would begin withdrawing troops from Iraq quickly.


Before the Carolina Theatre event, Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, toured the Greensboro Children's Museum and read to toddlers there. She posed for pictures and doled out hugs to the kids who weren't spooked by the swarm of people following her.


"That was a fantastic hug!" she told one.


The younger Clinton then headed over to the theater where she and Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's national campaign manager, introduced the presidential candidate.


After the event, audience members jostled to get close to the front of the room, where Clinton shook hands and posed for pictures.


Outside, the skies dried up after what had been a rainy morning and early afternoon. Christie Brinkley, 27, of High Point waited with a campaign sign in hand to see if she could catch a glimpse of Clinton when she left in her motorcade.


"My brother is about to make his third tour in Iraq, so that's a big thing for me. If she can do something to end that," said Brinkley.


She also said improving health coverage was a pressing issue for her.


Obama is scheduled to hold a town hall meeting in Winston-Salem today.


Early voting is already under way in advance of the May 6 primary.

Staff writer Jason Hardin and the Associated Press contributed.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark. binker@news-record.com