With their cell phone cameras at the ready, they waited. Dozens waited, looking down from their office windows.

The candidate-crazed crowds were more than anxious to see both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Portland.

Some spectators waited longer than others.

Jamey Winchester almost literally ran into Barack Obama in downtown Portland.

He said, "I was walking down the street. It looked like he was working out. Secret Service was all around him and he walked up and said, 'Hey! How ya doing?' I'm like, 'Uh, fine!.' "

Amanda Soden waited almost an hour outside the Benson Hotel, Friday morning.

KGW was there as she left a message for her boss, "We're waiting for Barack Obama to come outside. I wanted to let you know that I will be back to work, today, I swear."

"I'm an avid fan. I want to see him as our next president," she said.

A large crowd gathered outside the Paramount Hotel with word that Senator Hillary Clinton was inside.

"I happened to be staying at the same hotel, so I'd like to see a national figure who's running for president," one street spectator told Newschannel 8.

When they came out, the crowds at both hotels went wild.

"I think it's good. I think people should be out here having a look at their political candidates; that's important."

What's it like to shake the hand of a presidential candidate?

Soden was shaking, "That was awesome. That was beyond awesome. I can't even tell you," she said.