Though the national election scene is focusing on international affairs, superdelegates and campaign sniping, Western Pennsylvania voters are homing in on issues that will more directly influence the choices they make on April 22.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton addressed some of those issues in a visit to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newsroom last week while stomping the campaign trail in anticipation of the primary.

Clinton tackled one such hot-button issue, Social Security, by saying the system could be fixed with "relatively minor adjustments."

"Moving back to fiscal responsibility is critical for the long-term health of Social Security," Clinton said, pointing out that the strain on the national budget means Social Security could remain solvent only until 2041. Before President George W. Bush took office, she said, the solvency date was 2055.

"The only way we're going to deal with the challenges facing Social Security, particularly for younger workers, is with a bipartisan agreement," the senator added. "You can't do it with one party alone."

Clinton declined to specify her ideas for Social Security and said that as president, she would not want her ideas to influence those of a bipartisan panel she would seat in her administration. She said, though, she was firm on two things --- maintaining the benefits of those on or about to go on Social Security and avoiding additional burdens to the middle class.

The senator also discussed energy issues and linked them to the country's foundering economy. Clinton accused the Bush administration of giving away a U.S. advantage in the global market.

"We have squandered the fiscal responsibility that President Bush inherited. That has strategic implications, which I believe are troubling. We can't work our way economically into the future until we handle the challenges we face with energy from security and economic and environmental perspectives.

"We've been wringing our hands (as Americans), and we've been saying, 'There's nothing we can do about our energy crisis.' Now we're at $112 a barrel. The oil-producing countries have us over a barrel. There's a lot to do, but I think we're up to the task. But we can't do it unless we change direction."

Clinton said repairing crumbling infrastructure --- a problem in the Pittsburgh area --- must take priority. Clinton told reporters she saw a portion of Interstate 95 had been closed because of a damaged bridge during her recent road trip across the state.

"We've got to look at this from a smart, strategic perspective," she said. "Either we pay a little now, or pay a lot later" to repair bridges, roads and tunnels before problems occur.

"We should rebuild the infrastructure. We need to have the kind of bonding program we had during World War II, where citizen can buy 'Rebuild America' bonds."

Another issue for Pennsylvanians is the rising number of foreclosures in the state, reflecting a national trend. In February 2007, in Allegheny County, there were 167 home foreclosures. In February 2008, there were 222. Clinton said to solve the problem, the focus should be widened beyond Wall Street.

"I don't think we're going to be able to pull ourselves back with the housing market until we figure out how to stop the bleeding and the projection for 2.2 million households going into foreclosure this year are very troubling.

"We've got to tackle this both from getting rid of the people who have breached faith and crossed the line but also trying to prevent as many foreclosures as possible. I believe the Fed is dealing with only one part of the equation trying to stabilize Wall Street ... but if we don't also tackle the housing end of this, we're not going to be as successful as we need to be."