LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, pressing on with her presidential campaign, said Friday that Kentucky “will play a major role” in choosing the Democratic nominee.

Clinton was the headliner Friday evening for a Kentucky Democratic Party fundraiser that was expected to raise at least $100,000 -- perhaps substantially more—to bolster the campaigns of state-level candidates for seats in Frankfort and Washington. It was Clinton’s third visit to Kentucky this year.

“The last time I was here, I got a Louisville Slugger, and I want you to know it was an appropriate gift because I will always go to bat for you,” she told more than 1,000 Kentucky Democrats gathered inside the International Convention Center in Louisville.

Clinton touched on a number of familiar campaign themes in Louisville, ranging from health care for the uninsured to the war in Iraq. She called for abandoning a Bush administration education initiative known as “No Child Left Behind” and promoted coal as an alternative energy source in a state that has a bountiful supply of the black mineral.

“I will declare our energy independence and along the way we can create at least 5 million new jobs,” she said. “And clean coal needs to be a part of that energy future. We’re sitting on a huge natural resource right here in our country.”

Besides raising money for Kentucky candidates, the appearance allowed Clinton to make another appeal to Kentucky voters before the May 20 Democratic presidential primary and gave her face time with uncommitted Democratic superdelegates, elected officials and party activists who could play a major role in selecting the Democratic nominee because they can back any candidate they wish.

Three of Kentucky’s superdelegates—Gov. Steve Beshear, Kentucky Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Moore, and Democratic Vice Chairman Nathan Smith—haven’t yet endorsed a candidate. Clinton has been endorsed by superdelegates Terry McBrayer, JoEtta Wickliffe and Moretta Bosley, who are Democratic National Committee members from Kentucky. Two other superdelegates—U.S. Reps. John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler—have committed to Barack Obama.

Beshear called Friday for Democrats to unify behind the eventual nominee. “This November, we have one mission,” he said, “and that is to put a Democrat in the White House.”

Although Obama didn’t attend the Louisville fundraiser, his campaign issued a statement Friday saying he will campaign in Kentucky early next week. It will be his first visit since August, a state he has already predicted he will lose.

The nominees for president usually are decided long before Kentucky voters go to the polls in the state’s late primary. The Clinton campaign hopes a win in Kentucky will help convince superdelegates that she is the strongest candidate to face presumed GOP nominee John McCain.

“Kentucky always picks the president, and I know that,” Clinton said, referring to the state’s record for backing the winning candidate in every general election since 1964.

With little chance of catching Obama in the popular vote or among pledged delegates, Clinton and her strategists have pinned their hopes on superdelegates. A victory in Kentucky could help make the argument that she would be the party’s best choice, said Jonathan Hurst, the Clinton campaign’s state director.

“We’ve made Kentucky a very big priority,” Hurst said. “Clearly, Sen. Clinton has a lot of momentum, a lot of strength here.”

Clinton supporters, many carrying blue Hillary placards, packed into a ball room at International Convention Center in downtown Louisville, cheering wildly when the former First Lady was introduced to a Kentuckians who paid $50 to $2,500 attend.

Howard Keene of Bardstown said he is hopeful Clinton will stay in the race despite a growing chorus of people calling for her exit.

“I liked the times we had when her husband was president, and I think she can bring that stability back to the country and make us prosperous,” he said.

Undeterred by Obama’s concession of Kentucky to Clinton, Linda Shircliff of Louisville said voters here still will give the Illinois senator a strong showing of support.

“He’s being realistic,” Shircliff said. “It shows he’s willing to say whatever needs to be said about any particular issue.”

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)