Clinton Intensifies Ground Work in Ind.

[ruggerson]

?

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- At Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's headquarters here the other day, the campaign staff was brainstorming about ways to reach beyond the voters who appear on traditional Democratic Party lists. Did anyone know fathers able to distribute flyers at Little League practice? When do the farmers markets open?

"We spend a lot of time trying to find new people and get them plugged in," said Clinton regional field director Pete Hackeman.

That has not always been the case. As it continues to refine its tactics, the Clinton campaign is devoting far more energy to on-the-ground efforts in Indiana than it did in many of the early states she lost to Sen. Barack Obama, who deployed scores of young staffers to unlikely places and profited from the power of grass-roots organizing.

Driven by strategy and necessity as the New York Democrat's advertising budget runs low, the Clinton campaign has opened 28 offices in Indiana, where she faces another critical test on May 6. With 72 delegates at stake in Indiana, the Clinton family has made more than 50 stops in the state already, far more than Obama and his wife, Michelle.

"They've gotten religion in terms of on-the-streets activism and the importance of it," said South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke, an Obama supporter, of the Clintons. "They're working the streets a lot harder, and to their credit. It will help with her campaign in the final vote total here."

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[yourguide]

1. 41 states in and she's NOW figuring this out?

Oh yeah, I forgot, she's "just getting warmed up".

:puke:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

4. Ready on Day 92.

[yourguide]

7. Ready on day one...

in completely over her head on days 2 through 1458.

[babylonsister]

2. What do you know. They're emulating Obama's ground game! I guess

they belatedly figured it out, huh.

[featherman]

3. Good thing to do... a little late in the season to be figuring this out but

a good thing to do nonetheless. On the ground organizing is the name of the game and what drew me to Obama's type of campaign from the beginning. Great organization, retail politics even out here in the hinterlands.

[Indiana_Dem]

8. It's a little late butwe just organized last Wednesday for Obama out here in "BFE"...

This weekend I knocked on just 90 doors---31 contacts--Obama 19, Undecided 9, Not Obama supporter 7. It's looking good or I've just been knocking on the right doors! This is red hot small town Republican farming/manufacturing area, too. Only met 2 Hillary people, other non-supporters were Republican. I hope this is a true sample of what we will see. I'm praying.

I have received 2 phone calls from the Hillary campaign so far, one phone banker and one looking for canvassers. I told them both sorry, not unless she wins the GE.

[goldcanyonaz]

5. YAY HILLARY!!!

[juajen]

6. Thanks for this post. Its nice to know as always, that the learned keep learning.

I have great hopes for Indiana.