From the Houston Chronicle (Texas)
A few hundred people crowded into Barack Obama's new Houston campaign headquarters Monday afternoon. They heard from a delegation of elected officials who support the senator's campaign, including state Reps. Ana Hernandez and Garnet Coleman, during a short rally. Some volunteered to make phone calls, others sought information about Texas' complicated delegate system -- and one man even whipped out his check book to give a $2,300 donation. "We want you to call people, find supporters," local volunteer coordinator Gillian Bergeron told an excited crowd to open the rally. "We want you out there, telling people why you support Barack Obama." Hernandez -- standing with U.S. Rep. Al Green, state Rep. Dora Olivo, and Houston City Council members Peter Brown and Ronald Green -- excited the supporters to chants of "Yes we can," an Obama rallying cry, and its Spanish counterpart, "Si se puede." She told them that Obama's message would sway voters in Texas' March 4 primary: "They want change, and his message of change has resonated in our community, and we are excited."
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From the Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont)
“We're in a national campaign right now where every single delegate matters," said Obama state director Rob Hill. "We're looking to work as hard as we can over the next two weeks to pull for as many voters as we can.” But as the two campaigns weigh whether to invest scarce resources in a state with just 17 elected and six appointed delegates to the Democratic National Convention, it appears Obama is outgunning Clinton in the Green Mountain State. "We move fast," said Hill, who arrived in Vermont last Thursday, opened an office in Burlington on Friday and dispersed 10 paid staffers around the state on Saturday. In the coming days, the campaign is hoping to open offices in Brattleboro, Montpelier, White River Junction and possibly Bennington, Hill said. … Obama received support from Ben & Jerry's founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, along with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., at a Burlington event Monday. On Wednesday, former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, a senior foreign policy advisor to Obama's campaign, plans to stump for his candidate in Putney. "I think the appearance of Anthony Lake is unusual but welcome," said Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, who is hosting the event with his wife, Deborah Shumlin, a leader of Southern Vermonters for Obama. "I'm grateful for his willingness to come to Vermont." After more than 160 people signed up to see Lake, the event had to be moved from the Front Porch Café to the Putney Community Center. The event will take place between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a smaller fundraiser at the Front Porch. Both Shumlin and Hill cautioned that despite speculation that Vermont could be more inclined to support Obama, the race remains extremely fluid. "I've been making phone calls for this event and I've been surprised at how many people are undecided. I don't think the undecided factor should be underestimated," Shumlin said.
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From The Post (Ohio)
Bill Clinton’s former campaign manager David Wilhelm endorsed Senator Barack Obama at an organizational campaign meeting last night at the Ohio University Inn. Wilhelm, the youngest person to chair the Democratic National Committee, said Obama’s plans for sustainable agriculture, alternative energy and rebuilding small-town infrastructure will be instrumental in areas like Athens. “I’m impressed by Barack Obama because of his rural development strategy,” he said to the more than 150 people in attendance. “He has presented a philosophy that fits Southeast Ohio.” In his first speech supporting Obama, Wilhelm said young people flock to Obama because he will put the middle class first and work towards the common good. Volunteers must make an extra effort in the coming weeks, as this election will be especially close, said Wilhelm, who has been working on political campaigns since the age of 14. “I came up the hard way, knocking on doors and making phone calls,” he said. “That’s what we need to do in the next few weeks.” Obama’s campaign has staff in Steubenville, Chillicothe, Marietta, Portsmouth, New Philadelphia, Zanesville and on the OU campus. Members of the Obama campaign, most of whom arrived in Athens a week ago, officially opened a new office Sunday at 9 West Stimson — the old New-to-You Shoppe building.
From the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
Sen. Barack Obama is a dynamic leader who understands the problems facing urban communities, 15 Ohio lawmakers said this afternoon in endorsing the Democrat's bid for the presidency. … In a press conference today, several members of the black caucus reaffirmed their support of the Illinois senator and were joined by several other legislators. The lawmakers, all Democrats, noted Obama's roots as a community organizer in Chicago and his ability to bridge partisan and cultural divides. "That hope and faith is the very substance on which this nation was built and on which it can be rebuilt," said Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard, D-Columbus. "We need a president who understands the urban perspective and what happens in people's day-to-day lives," said Rep. Mike Foley, D-Cleveland. Obama's campaign said it has secured endorsements from Heard, Foley, Rep. Jennifer Brady of Cleveland, Sen. Capri Cafaro of Hubbard, Rep. Ted Celeste of Columbus, Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, Sen. Eric Kearney of Cincinnati, Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, Rep. Clayton Luckie of Dayton, Sen. Tom Roberts of Dayton, Sen. Tom Sawyer of Akron, Sen. Shirley Smith of Cleveland, Rep. Dan Stewart of Columbus, Rep. Tyrone Yates of Cincinnati and Rep. Sandra Williams of Cleveland.
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