Heinz Kerry continually criticized President George W. Bush for his foreign policies but added that her husband would take a different approach. She specifically noted Bush's position regarding the Kyoto Treaty.
"To declare 160 nations' efforts over 10 years dead on arrival is not the beginning of good policy, my friends," she said.
Bush publicly stated he did not support the treaty.
Although she did not mention college education for the first half-hour of the speech, Heinz Kerry said that Kerry plans to introduce tax incentives and increase Federal Pell Grant opportunities.
"For students who graduate high school and merit college entrance, we propose that they do two years of public service and then get four years of college for free," she said.
Students attending the event showed varied reactions to Heinz Kerry's presence at Penn State, with some supporting John Kerry's campaign, some supporting Bush, and others unsure of their decision.
Mike Otani (senior-political science) said he has not yet decided for whom to vote, but that he wanted to hear Heinz Kerry speak to get a better idea of her husband's politics.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said. "I'm non-partisan so I have to see it from both sides."
Jane Zaretskie (sophomore-political science) and Tom Grane (junior-secondary education) went to a Kerry-Edwards rally in Harrisburg that hosted 20,000 people during the summer. Both are supporting Kerry in the upcoming election.
"I think it's just the atrocious job Bush has done," Grane said.
While reports estimate a crowd of about 4,000 Kerry supporters, Bush voters also showed their support for the president.
College Republicans chair Andy Banducci said the organization had come to show their support for Bush, but that they did not plan to cause a problem.
"Penn State is a huge campus and we expect this," he said. "We're not disrupting their event, we're simply here to support the president."
After Heinz Kerry's speech, she waved to the thousands of supporters who waited outside Schwab Auditorium before leaving campus.
She was expected to fly to Boston immediately following the event.
--Jen Winberry contributed to this story.
PHOTO: Matt Sowers
Teresa Heinz Kerry shakes supporters' hands outside Schwab Auditorium following last night's speech as Secret Service personnel look on.
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