Chelsea Clinton made a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on behalf of her mother's presidential campaign when she held a question-and-answer session at Point Park University yesterday.

About 150 people, including students, faculty and a few of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign volunteers, squeezed into the atrium of the school's University Center to hear the former first daughter discuss her mother's stance on everything from college affordability and the Iraq war to immigration and gay marriage.

With 158 delegates up for grabs, Pennsylvania, which will hold its Democratic presidential primary April 22, has become a key in the tightly contested race between Mrs. Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.

Earlier in the day, Chelsea Clinton made stops at Lebanon Valley College and Wilkes University near Harrisburg.

Point Park attendees began gathering about an hour before the scheduled 5:15 p.m. session, but Ms. Clinton did not arrive until about 6:30 p.m.

One of those waiting was Alison Boren, a 21-year-old Point Park senior who is undecided but leaning toward Mrs. Clinton.

She cited her experience as a first lady and in the Senate. "I think she has a lot more experience than Obama," Ms. Boren said. She also believes health care, the war on terror and Social Security are important issues.

Also in the audience was 19-year-old Clinton supporter and Point Park sophomore Joe Adams of Greensburg.

"Hillary has the most consistent background for change," he said, adding that he is very excited about the upcoming primary.

When she finally took the stage, dressed in dark blue stretch jeans, a black T-shirt and an olive green jacket with black elbow patches, Ms. Clinton apologized to the audience, citing traffic that had been "a little bit more gnarly than we had anticipated."

She explained that she was passionate about her mother's candidacy "not only as her daughter but also as a young American, as a young voter and as a young woman." She said Mrs. Clinton "offers the really progressive agenda that I want to see in this country."

Ms. Clinton is a 28-year-old hedge fund number-cruncher with a reported salary of $200,000 a year.

While she still pretty much holds the media at bay, an approach established by her parents when it came to coverage of their daughter during their White House years, she is an astute and polished public speaker.

Without any notes she was able to cite figures and statistics no matter what the topic.

She took the first question from a male student in the balcony who was undecided and wanted to know what Mrs. Clinton can bring to a debate against Sen. John McCain that Mr. Obama cannot.

Ms. Clinton cited a laundry list, including her mother's plans for the economy and the current housing crisis; her call for "green-collar" jobs and her push in 1993 and 1994 for universal health care "before it was fashionable."

She also touted Mrs. Clinton's foreign policy positions like beginning a troop withdrawal from Iraq 60 days after taking office and working to re-establish U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East.

Asked what her mother would do regarding gay rights, she said Mrs. Clinton would extend equal benefits to federal government employees and put an end to former President Bill Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military. She said her mother also would push for civil unions.

While she never mentioned Mr. Obama's name during her 45-minute Q&A session, she did invoke the name of Newt Gingrich in citing her mother's having "the most productive relationship of working with Republicans when she can."

Afterward, Jana McLeod, a 19-year-old Point Park sophomore from Rochester, N.Y., was impressed with Ms. Clinton, saying she was well-spoken and answered every question.

Nikitta Sanders, 20, of Penn Hills, said she was undecided before hearing Ms. Clinton, but is now leaning toward her mother.

"[Chelsea Clinton] was very well-rounded and kind of made you want to vote for her mother," she said.

Sophomore Jamisa Spaulding remained undecided but lauded Ms. Clinton. "She answered the questions very well," Ms. Spaulding said. "Anything that was coming at her she knew the answers."