SIOUX FALLS - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton shrugged off calls to drop out of the race during a stop in Sioux Falls Thursday, saying "the more democracy we have, the better to get people involved."

Clinton, speaking in an airport hangar, said the Democratic Party will be stronger as the process continues. It's exciting that on June 3, the votes in South Dakota and Montana - the last presidential primaries - will count, she said.

"On June 3, Montana and South Dakota will have the last word. And you're going to have a chance between now and then to really think about what you want in the next president," she said.

Speaking for about 45 minutes, Clinton pressed major campaign themes, stressing a need to change U.S. energy policy and ramp up work on renewable sources. She also said that oil companies should be made to put up ethanol pumps at gas stations.

South Dakota would benefit greatly from more use of biofuels and wind energy, she told the crowd of about 1,000.

Clinton criticized her rival, Barack Obama, who has dismissed her proposal for a three-month gas tax holiday this summer. The average family would save $70 and truckers would save $2 billion, she said.

Some in the crowd disapproved of Democratic Party elder statesman George McGovern's withdrawal of his endorsement.

The timing of McGovern's announcement that he was switching his allegiance to Obama - on the eve of Clinton's Sioux Falls visit - made it even worse, said Sandra Duncan, of Luverne, Minn.

"I'm terribly unhappy with George McGovern," said Duncan, who gave McGovern a ride to the airport in 1968 after a Robert F. Kennedy campaign visit.

McGovern wasn't the only noticeably absent Democratic leader, as most other high-ranking South Dakota politicians from the party have come out in support of Obama. Clinton was introduced by Malcom Chapman, a Rapid City councilman.

Terri Jones of Brookings, Duncan's daughter, said the McGovern switch hurt South Dakota's chance to make a difference in the campaign.

"He's disenfranchised South Dakota voters. With the late primary we have, this counts for something," Jones said.

Clinton has campaigned in the state with her husband, Bill Clinton, and was in Lennox in 1994 to pitch a health care plan.

Former Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani visited Sioux Falls in November, and the presumptive GOP nominee, John McCain, was in the state in October 2006.

Jones, Duncan and others at the airport hangar said they think the U.S. needs change but that Clinton has more experience to accomplish that change than Obama.

"The country is in a lot of trouble right now and I don't think that he's given solutions," Jones said.

Alicia Dorothy, 23, of Harrisburg, said she has been a Clinton supporter since childhood and never considered backing anyone else this election cycle.

"There's something about her, her charisma, her demeanor and how strong she is, and her thoughts and views," she said of Clinton.

Her husband, Matthew, 24, a business consultant, said Clinton is the better candidate because of her health care policy. She has focused it and improved it since her 1994 visit, he said.

"It's probably a lot more defined," Matthew said.

Matthew Dorothy's parents, Charles and Donna Dorothy of Sioux Falls, also showed up, not knowing that their son and his family were in the crowd.

Donna Dorothy, 56, said it's time for a woman president. Clinton has an advantage because of her experience, she added.

"We kind of liked the way Bill did things," Donna Dorothy said.

Voters know lots about Clinton, but that's not the case with Obama, she said.

Matthew Dorothy said that's important to him, as well. "Her experience is one of the largest (reasons) for me. The problem I see with the platform of change is, I don't know if he (Obama) has the clout to bring about that change."

Sisters Gabriella and Francesca Collignon of Sioux Falls also attended the rally. There's no way Clinton should drop out of the race, Gabriella Collignon said.

She said she thought about supporting Obama but believes Clinton is much better qualified. "I think it shows a lot about her personality that she's going to keep going."

Terri Jones' daughter, Nikki, who just finished her freshman year at South Dakota State University, said having a woman president would help her generation break through the glass ceiling that still remains.

As for Obama, she said, "I think guys tend to go for Barack Obama because they don't think a woman can handle it."

Asked whether her friends support Clinton or Obama, Nikki Jones said, "They're all pretty much Republicans."

Chimed in Sandra Duncan, "If you're a Democrat in South Dakota, you're already a minority."

The chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party, Karl Adam, said in a statement that Clinton is too liberal and out of step with South Dakotans.

"Her priorities just aren't South Dakota's priorities," he said.