toledoblade.com --

The campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both opened their Toledo offices last night, and if the election outcome was based on the number of volunteers in attendance, Senator Obama would win.

The Obama campaign office, 44 South St. Clair St., drew about 150 people for the opening night meeting, at which Obama staffers explained their plan for capturing Ohio's Democratic vote in the March 4 primary.

The Clinton campaign office, 5220 Lewis Ave., drew about 30 people.

The two candidates have begun turning their attention to Ohio in the hard-fought race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The nomination will go to whichever candidate wins 2,025 delegates at the national convention in August. So far, Mr. Obama has a lead of 1,275 to Mrs. Clinton's 1,220, according to the Associated Press. Mr. Obama has won all eight primary contests since Feb. 5.

Republicans also will hold their Ohio primary on March 4.

The Clinton campaign is in the former Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 33 hall.

Steve Steel, coordinator of delegate selection for Senator Clinton in the 9th Congressional District, said he believes Mrs. Clinton has solutions for Toledo's economic problems. Last night was the start of the campaign to make that case by having volunteers sign up for phone banks and door-to-door canvassing.

"I think Toledo is a Hillary town. I don't know if it recognizes it," he said. "We'll have to get that message out."

The Clinton campaign yesterday announced Mayor Carty Finkbeiner as one of dozens of elected officials in Ohio who have endorsed her.

One Clinton volunteer, Patricia Marek, 52, said she is a Clinton fan from way back.

"I wanted her the last time, but she wasn't running," Mrs. Marek said.

Wade Kapszukiewicz, the 9th District delegate coordinator for Mr. Obama, said the size of the turnout at the Obama headquarters in a former hardware store in the Warehouse District was unprecedented for this early in a campaign.

He said Senator Obama will appeal to Ohio voters because he is not associated with the "failed" policies of NAFTA - the North American Free Trade Agreement - and the war in Iraq.

One of the volunteers at Senator Obama's headquarters, Terry Cluse-Tolar, a social work instructor at the University of Toledo, predicted a close race.

"But I think he's got a fresh message and it's something that our country needs," Ms. Cluse-Tolar said. She said she was invited to the rally because she had helped Senator Obama by making calls to Arkansas from her home for Super Tuesday.

Contact Tom Troy at:
tomtroy@theblade.com
or 419-724-6058.

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