DAPHNE — Pat Edington couldn’t be happier about how well the fund-raising luncheon went on Saturday, one that she hosted for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton.

And evidently Clinton was also pleased, because she’s already talking about a return visit to Alabama, Edington said.

“Hillary called me when she got to Atlanta, to thank me again and to say what a wonderful time she’d had,” Edington said.

That’s when Clinton said she “definitely“ wants to come back to Alabama, she said.

“She’s taking the voters of Alabama very seriously,” Edington said. “So I suggested that she consider making her next visit in northern Alabama.”

Edington, a long-time political activist and former member of the Democratic National Convention, now serves on Clinton’s finance committee.

The two women have been friends for about 20 years. They first met when Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas and visited Mobile for a national conference.

A self-proclaimed “Hillraiser” for Clinton’s campaign, Edington said she is already beginning to organize a northern Alabama fundraiser to coincide with her next visit.

Forty-five guests paid $4,600 each to attend Saturday’s luncheon, which provided them with an opportunity to meet and speak with Clinton personally, Edington said.

Guests came from Alabama as well as four other states, she said.

Clinton brought five staffers with her, Edington said.

Although Edington had been warned in advance about Clinton’s tight schedule, that wasn’t a problem, she said.

“In fact, she arrived at about noon and that was about a half-hour earlier than we expected her. And then she stayed about a half -hour later than she was scheduled to be here,” Edington said.

That “delighted our guests, because they absolutely loved her,” she said.

During the luncheon, Clinton spent about a half-hour discussing a number of topics including education and the importance of pre-school as well as the war in Iraq, Edington said.

“Hillary said she doesn’t believe that we should pull our troops out all at once. But she does feel strongly that they should be fully funded and equipped while they are there,” she said.

“She also talked about the need to make sure that the Iraqi government realizes the importance of being able to operate on its own and is moving in that direction,” Edington said.

Politics were discussed over a catered luncheon that included a dish featuring Bayou La Batre crab meat and another made with fresh Gulf Coast shrimp, she said.

It was the shrimp entree that really captured Clinton’s attention and tastebuds, Edington said.

“The shrimp was in a Creole cream sauce with mushrooms and was served over smoked Gouda cheese grits,” she said. “Yes, she really enjoyed those grits.”

Clinton also enjoyed the response she received from other local residents, who lined the street leading to the Edingtons’ home.

One neighbor put out several American flags to welcome Clinton; others simply waved at her as she drove by, Edington said.

That made an impression on Clinton, Edington said.

“One of her staff even remarked about how friendly people are here and how that would never happen in New York,” she said.