Obama Camp Sets Up In South Carolina

A spokesman for the Obama presidential campaign has confirmed that South Carolina will have paid staff members to establish offices and conduct voter registration programs. When the campaign previously stated intentions to compete in 12 traditionally Republican states, South Carolina was not on the list.

Nick Shapiro, a campaign spokesman in Chicago, said, "The campaign is looking forward to expanding the battleground. Obama for America is showing the country that we mean business [with regard to the 50 state strategy]."

The establishment of an operation in the Palmetto State is unconventional because the campaigns of both Sen. John Kerry and former Vice President Al Gore bypassed the GOP-dominated state to focus on states with more promise. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win South Carolina was Jimmy Carter, who defeated Gerald Ford in 1976, carrying 56 percent of the vote.

While the exact plans have not been finalized it is probable that the paid staff will augment hundreds of South Carolina volunteers organized around the state. "Those volunteers are already heading up a get-out-the-vote campaign effort," explains Keiana Page, a state headquarters staffer, "trying to let people know who our candidates are and what they're about."

In neighboring North Carolina there are nine paid staffers and about 150 volunteers already working for the Obama campaign. Looking to benefit from the cross-over of people and media markets that occurs routinely in the Carolinas, Palmetto Democrats hope to turn the state purple.

Obama's South Carolina primary win was the result of record turnout in which the number of African-Americans voting more than doubled. But the huge numbers were across the board. State Democratic chair Carol Fowler notes, "All our turnout numbers were more than doubled. The [Obama campaign's] non-traditional ways of doing things works."

Although an article posted to the state's Democratic website highlights the impact of voters who moved to South Carolina from other states, Fowler feels that a lot of the increased voting came simply from people new to voting, many of them young people.

And the energy of the primary continues. "The numbers of people who are updating their registrations are really high for this point in an election year," Fowler says. "It's been that way since January. And when the colleges open in the fall, we'll be there registering the new students."

Comments

[abiodunaodeleye]

I work as a volunteer(one of maybe 70 others) in Charlottesville, VA, after my daily calling as a physician.

[musselmanm]

I am a worker for Senator Obama here in Greensboro NC. There are about 50 workers just in Greensboro. Not full time, the grassroots people that make up his base. There are many more support grouips in North Carolina. Hillary was overwhelmed here with the organization. The numbers seem to always turn out to be underestimated.

[jupitor]

Job well done! He will unite all of the United States! It's been a long time sense the voice of Americans have been heard to loud and clear! and Joseph llieberman /Mccain/bush Move over or be mowed down!SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Do something! Vote Obama and change the face of america!

[kevenseven]

He is not going to win in SC, but perhaps his efforts gain us a few congressional seats, which will make his legislative efforts that much easier.

[CTmom13]

I wouldn't say never, there is possiblity he will win a huge number of states...McSame is only holding a handful of red states by doule digits

[SPQR1052]

GO TEAM OBAMA!! Take the fight to their front yards and beyond.

Obama/Edwards/Wexler 2008

[MasterHurrikane]

nice move Team Obama....

[BottomLine2008]

Did Obama ever hear of a bridge too far?

[lovethesinner]

Obama believes it is better to build bridges than walls.

(I stole that from a fellow Obama supporter)