Senator Hillary Clinton took to the stage on Saturday night at the Metcalf-Mansfield Dinner in Butte to address the Democratic faithful.

She took the podium just after 9:05 a.m. to the theme song from the movie Rocky, saying that she was thrilled to be in Butte and had "wanted to be out here for St. Patrick's Day".

She added that "Montana is at the forefront of our western resurgence" and that she's "glad that Montana's voice will be heard in this election".

Senator Clinton led off her speech before the 4,000 people who packed the Butte Civic Center by saying that after seven years of a President that backs big business interests it was "time we had a President who stood up for all of you". 

The New York Democrat also talked about the record deficit that the country is facing and that future generations will be "stuck with the bill".

She called for all Americans to work together, commenting that "the contrasts" could not be greater between the Democrats and President Bush. Clinton added the United States "needs to do what's necessary to take back the future" and the Americans are up to the challenge.

The Democrat went on to say that the country needs a President "who is ready on day one to end the war in Iraq and keep our children safe - and someone who knows how to manage this economy and strengthen middle-class families".

Clinton says her campaign is offering real solutions to make a better future by "setting out a vision" and knowing "how to get there".

The Senator hit a middle class theme saying that in light of the economic problems facing the country, Americans need a President who listens to their needs and an economy that works for everyone.

Clinton says she believes "that America's best days are ahead of us", and that future generations have the same chances to succeed in the Unties States.

She called for rebuilding the middle class and pulling back the $55 billion in tax cuts that have gone to...those who do not need" the money more than the middle class.

The senator called for the federal government to "start living within our means" and will take a close look at the budget to cut out money for large companies.

Clinton then touched on the needs of rural states like Montana, saying"when I say solutions, I mean making our government a partner with rural America...I'm committed to passing a strong Farm Bill that works for true family farms, with priorities like permanent disaster relief, strengthening country of origin labeling, renewable energy advances and rural development, including rural broadband deployment".

The Democrat also praised Montana senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester in leading the fight for a U.S. Farm Bill, adding that "President Bush needs to stop standing in the way of it".

Touching on energy needs she called on declaring "our independence from foreign oil" and that the county has been moving in the wrong direction. Clinton said that as President she would work on the "the extraordinary work Governor Schweitzer is doing to tap our natural resources right here in Montana, including biofuels, clean coal, and wind energy".

The Democrat also called for investing $50 billion in alternative energy that will be "paid for by the excess profits of big oil".

Moving on to health care, she called for "providing universal health care because 47 million [are] un-insured, including more than 160,000 here in Montana...[it's] a national disgrace." Clinton went on to say that those happy with their insurance could keep it, but other would be able to tap into a system like the one that covers federal employees.

The Democrat also called for ending unfunded national mandates like the No Child Left Behind Act, assailing the prevalence of testing that's now taking place in the nation's schools. Another important aspect according to Clinton is to make college more affordable.

Among the steps that Clinton says she'll take to help better serve Indian Country, "including fully funding the Indian Health Service". She also said she'd "appoint Native Americans to key positions throughout our government" and that government-to government relations with Indian Country.

We need to restore...."our moral authority" and that includes reaching out to the rest of the world and bringing the troops home from Iraq as soon as possible. One topic of cooperation Clinton sited was global warming, saying the U.S. would lead the battle.

Striking a bi-partisan note, Clinton said she would ask members of both parties to spread across the world to say that the U.S. is ready to work with others.

Clinton talked of ending the "power grabs of the Bush-Cheney administration" and restore balance to the Constitution.

While speaking of admiring Republican candidate John McCain, she said she's ready to challenge him on the issue of national security.

"He is willing to keep troops in Iraq for up to 100 years...I'll start bringing them home in the first 60 days of my administration"

Attacking McCain on the economy she added "Senator McCain has also admitted he doesn't understand the economy, and unfortunately he's proving it in this campaign".

She sited the home mortgage crisis, saying that McCain is not blaming "Wall Street, which helped create this mess in the first place. But homeowners. And his plan for the economy is to extend President Bush's failed economic policy that brought us record deficits and brought this country to the brink of a recession".

Clinton turned to the residents of Butte saying she admires the fighting spirit of the city, adding "your progress today proves you were right. I'm proud to be among people who have the courage and determination to stay in the fight, and that's the same spirit I'm bringing to this campaign".

She ended by urging the Democrats to "go forward to victory".

Her speech comes on the heels of  Illinois Senator Barack Obama's earlier address.

- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula