Obama sets up campaign in Danville-to hold open house

Story Update: 7-15-2008 10:24 a.m. The Danville headquarters for Barack Obama will hold an open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Riverside Shopping Center near Subway. The public is invited to attend.

(Original story:) Sheila Baynes has been involved in Democratic Party politics in Danville pushing 20 years.

Never in that time has she seen national democratic operatives come here to boost there’s chances of winning.

“Never, in all the years I have been involved in democratic politics that I am aware of, has the city of Danville had campaign organizers come to Danville for a democratic presidential campaign and said ‘we are here to help you organize,’ we are opening shop in Danville. Never,” Baynes said.

That has changed this year.

Obama’s Virginia campaign announced a host of regional field directors this week — including Danville.

Baynes said the support is welcome, and it shows Obama’s staff believes Virginia is in play.

“This is a result of the overwhelming support of Barack Obama in Virginia and in Danville. Danvillians understand that failed policies of the Bush administration cannot continue and that Obama offers hope and opportunity for a new tomorrow,” she said. “We are very excited about this opportunity to work with the campaign. Danville has many ‘independent’ voters and we will work to gain their support.”

Obama’s Virginia spokesman said the campaign has a commitment to Danville. They plan on opening a campaign office here soon, and they know they have work to do.

“We feel that there’s headway to be made in Danville and Southside,” Kevin Griffis. “People in those communities who are hurting and have taken the brunt of Bush economics.”

He said jobs have gone overseas. People are paying $4 a gallon for gasoline, and believe they’re ready for change.

“It’s up to us to make that case that Barack is right and he will deliver,” he said.

A close observer of national and state politics isn’t surprised either by the attention Danville is getting from Obama’s campaign — and added it makes sense.

This is happening all over the country. Obama has 150 organizers on the ground in the swing-state Missouri, to a few dozen for McCain,” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Virginia Politics and a political science professor at the University of Virginia.

These organizers will help maximize voter turnout — especially among African-American voters. Sabato said Obama is likely to get upwards of 95 percent of the African-American vote in November.

“So he doesn’t need to worry about getting a fix on black voters, he just registers them and makes sure they vote. McCain’s automatic vote is less solid and less easily identifiable,” Sabato said.

Obama campaign representatives met with supporters in Caswell County Saturday.

Organizers met in the Gunn Memorial Library to discuss topics such as voter registration to increase their chances of carrying Caswell County. The North Carolina Obama campaign also plans to have a coordinator.

President Bush carried traditionally Democratic Caswell County narrowly in 2004 and 2000.

Sabato said organizing voters in these area is a smart strategy.

“You don’t have to carry a county to gain from it. You need to add a few points to your total, thus reducing the opponent’s margin in potentially unfriendly territory. That means that McCain can’t build enough of a lead in rural areas to overcome the likely Obama majorities in the cities, university towns, and Northern Virginia. The same theory holds in North Carolina, another Obama-targeted state. It may or may not work but it is sound electoral strategy, Sabato said.

Contact staff writer Bernard Baker at bbaker@registerbee.com or at (434) 791-7986.