Local campaigns focus on one-on-one contact with voters
Local campaigns focus on one-on-one contact with voters Save Email Print
Posted: 10:05 PM Apr 20, 2008
Last Updated: 12:02 AM Apr 21, 2008
Reporter: Ryan Famuliner
Email Address: ryan.famuliner@wndu.com

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While the focus will be on Pennsylvania for the next couple of days, Indiana's time in the spotlight isn't too far away.

With the primary in about 2 weeks, local campaign efforts are in full gear.

Indiana has a say in the primary season for the first time in 40 years.

For local supporters, the two weeks until primary day will be a whirlwind; trying to drum up support for their respective candidates any way they can.

We've gotten used to seeing large campaign events with big name speakers.

But supporters say smaller venues, like a Hoosiers for Hillary event at the South Bend Chocolate Café on Sunday, may be even more important.

“This is how campaigns are won. Its on the ground, grass roots efforts. That wins elections, and I think there’s a number of undecided’s in this state,” said Judith Cothran, one of the panelists at the event that had just a few dozen in attendance.

Organizers say at more personal events like there, it's important how a supporter answers a simple question.

“Why am I for this candidate? The more heartfelt answer you can give to that question, I think the more opportunity we have of turning someone around who is undecided, “ said Rebecca Marr-Miller, a regular Hoosiers for Hillary volunteer.

In the weeks ahead, these more personal contacts will be common.

“More of these types of events, also more canvassing, phone calling,” Marr-Miller said.

Meanwhile, Barack Obama supporters spent Sunday pounding the pavement, and talking to their neighbors in South Bend.

“To see you know regular people just like you and me… people hear why you’re excited about that candidate it might help sway them, it may not,” said Obama supporter Heather Budzinski.

While they're working hard... They're also keeping an eye on what's happening in Pennsylvania.

“If she doesn’t do as well as we're hoping, then that then means that Indiana is even bigger then we anticipated and so we're going to be out there doing everything we can for Indiana,” Marr-Miller said.

“We're interested of course, but I mean we can control what we can control. We can control what we do here. I can work as hard as I can for Obama here in my hometown, and here in Indiana,” said Dustin Blythe of Mishawaka, who spent hours going door-to-door campaigning for Obama Sunday.

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Posted by: Joe Location: granger on Apr 21, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Man look at the BIG mouth on that lady!

Posted by: Sounds like Obama on Apr 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I will talk to everyone in the US one-on-one. I will even flip every one off.

Posted by: Dustin Location: Mishawaka on Apr 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM
If you, too, would like to get involved in these final weeks, see www.in.barackobama.com.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 21, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Dustin Blythe? Is that the guy that posts here all the time?


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