Barack Obama's presidential campaign opened its South Bend office Saturday at the county Democratic offices.

The campaign wants to make Indiana an actual contender in this year's contest, instead of just falling into the Republican column by default.

The South Bend office is among five opening this weekend, and in the coming weeks offices will open in Michigan City, Elkhart, and Warsaw.

Former Indiana first lady Maggie Kernan, a former Clinton supporter, helped open the office and talked about the tight primary.

"It was a healthy battle. I think it was good for the process; it got so many people interested, aware, involved," she says. "And now we have all this energy here."

After the opening speeches, supporters left the office on South Lafayette and hit the streets, talking with voters and trying to get people to register to do so.