Clinton Headquarters For Surrounding Counties Opens
This story was written by Amy Flashenberg, Daily Collegian
The local Hillary Clinton campaign office may not have been furnished when its doors opened last Thursday, but that didn't stop campaign staffers from kicking the local campaign efforts into gear, even if it meant sitting on the floor to do it.
Although the office now has several tables and chairs, there were still not enough seats to accommodate more than 100 Hillary Clinton supporters that gathered last night to learn how they can participate in the local campaign efforts between now and the April 22 primary election.
Among those in attendance was State College Mayor Bill Welch, who addressed the group as "fellow 'Hillarians'" before sharing why he feels Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., should be the Democratic presidential nominee.
"I think she won't let us down... and we will not let her down on April 22 in the primary," Welch said.
Campaign staffer Lindsey Walters, introduced the Clinton supporters to the local campaign's "field plan," which involves talking to voters one-on-one, be it in person or over the phone, to "make it clear who the individual is who can win the nomination," she said.
"We have a lot to do before... April," Walters said. "What we ask of you is to help us."
Beginning this Saturday, campaign staffers and volunteers will spend every weekend until the primary election canvassing in neighborhoods to "spread the word" about Clinton's stance on the issues, Walters said. Canvassing in Centre County will occur from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Volunteers should meet at the campaign office, 1318 W. College Ave., if they wish to canvass. This Friday a "practice canvass" will be held at senior centers throughout the area, she added.
As a part of the local campaign's "visibility" plan, volunteers will be holding Hillary Clinton signs on street corners during peak traffic hours to literally make their cause visible to as many voters as possible, Walters said. Supporters will be holding signs on the corner of College Avenue and Atherton Street this coming Monday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The office will have a phone bank every evening from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., in which volunteers will call voters to provide them with information about Clinton and to continue gaining supporters.
"It's a toll-free way to get in touch with some voters," Walters said.
The regional office, which is the headquarters for Clinton, Centre, Clearfield, Cameron, McKean and Potter Counties, officially opened its doors last Thursday, after the original opening planned for March 8 was postponed as a result of issues with the space's lease, said Clinton campaign intern, Sean Leonard.
Leonard, one of the leaders of the organization originally called the Penn State Hillblazers, said the group of Clinton supporters is currently pending approval for official recognition as an organization on campus, and will soon be known as Penn State for Hillary.
The deadline to register or to change voter registration is this coming Monday, March 24. To vote in the primary election voters must be registered with a particular party, not as Independents.
© 2008 Daily Collegian via U-WIRE