Valentine's Day with Hillary Clinton

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/02/14/art.clintonplane.ap.jpg caption="Valentine’s Day on the Clinton campaign plane."] VIENNA, Ohio (CNN) - With Bill Clinton nowhere in sight this Valentine's Day, Hillary Clinton stole a few saccharine moments with the men and women of the traveling press who see her much more often, day and night.

As her plane prepared for takeoff from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, Clinton played stewardess, sauntering back to meet the press corps with a tray of chocolates and Valentine's Day wishes.

"I apologize to all of you who are not spending valentine's day with your significant others," she told them, as reporters each took chocolates and said, "Thank you, senator."

Clinton said this was first time in 37 years that she and her husband hadn't been together on Valentine's Day. The former president is campaigning in Wisconsin today as she travels across Ohio.

But, she said, he hadn't dropped the ball: "When I got in last night there were a dozen roses and some chocolates."

A TV producer, CBS' Fernando Suarez, handed Clinton his cell phone so she could help console his lonely girlfriend back in Washington.

"I am happy to be Fernando's second choice on Valentine's Day," Clinton told Suarez' girlfriend Michelle as reporters laughed out loud and pool photographers snapped away. For good measure, she also made nice with the girlfriend of Politico's Ken Vogel.

Clinton then walked back to first class, while the assembled reporters hustled back to their seats for takeoff.

- CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby