ERIE -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton carried her campaign to Erie last night, laying out her economic plans to a crowd of more than 2,000 at Mercyhurst College.

Her visit to the Catholic institution was preceded by a public protest from Erie Catholic Bishop Donald W. Trautman, who criticized the college "for not reflecting the pro-life stance of the Catholic Church regarding abortion." He said he would not attend Mercyhurst's graduation ceremonies next month.

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College President Dr. Thomas J. Gamble said he was "disappointed" in the bishop's announcement but said he could not deprive the students of "a great educational opportunity." He said the student government had invited all three presidential candidates, but only Mrs. Clinton, an advocate of abortion rights, had accepted.

"Of course, I'm saddened by the bishop's decision, and I look forward to entering a dialogue with him," Dr. Gamble said yesterday afternoon.

Mrs. Clinton, who was introduced by Gov. Ed Rendell, did not address the protest issues. As she presented her economic stump, the crowd listened in hushed silence while she made her arguments and cheered on cue when she raised her voice to punctuate a point.

She noted that in the Senate she represents New York, "a state that shares more than just Lake Erie" with the people of Pennsylvania. Both regions, she said, have been hard hit economically during the Bush administration.

One way of rejuvenating the economy of Pennsylvania, she said, would be the development of "clean, renewable sources of energy," a challenge she compared to the space race of more than 40 years ago.

"You sure have enough wind coming off that lake out there," she told the crowd in a call for more wind-generated power. "It's God's gift. Just use it."

She also told those gathered, many of them students, that she would work to make college education more affordable. "This is not just about the next election," she said. "It's about the next generation."

In defending the college against Bishop Trautman's protest, Dr. Gamble said opening the doors of the institution to varying views was challenging. "In our mission, we make specific reference to providing an environment where faith and reason flourish together. So we think the best way to have a strong faith is to hear all sides. We would be very, very reluctant to deprive our students of this kind of educational opportunity."

Most of the reaction to the decision that he had heard had been positive, he said.

"Something this quick, you cannot measure the reaction except by buzz, and the buzz has been very positive," he said.

Among those who arrived hours before the rally to stand in line was Anthony Johnson, 54, of Erie. Mr. Johnson, who is unemployed, took his 8-year-old granddaughter, Kaleyah, out of school to attend the event.

"I had a conversation with all my grandkids about who was running for president, and she said, 'I want a girl president,' " said Mr. Johnson, who also saw former President Bill Clinton when he stopped in Erie last month "It's a historic time, and I want my granddaughters to know that they can be whatever they want to be. So I thought she ought to be here."

Mr. Johnson, a registered Democrat, said he was supporting Mrs. Clinton. "Gender has never been an issue with me. I've always liked her husband, and I thought, 'Why not a woman?' " But speaking as a black man, he said, the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama "is a great thing," and he will support Mr. Obama if he gets the party's nomination.