Obama courts Pa. GOP and independents
Published: March 14, 2008 at 7:37 PM
PHILADELPHIA, March 14 (UPI) -- Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, hoping to improve his chances for a win in Pennsylvania, is working to register independents and Republicans as Democrats.
The Illinois senator is trying to get independents and Republicans to flip their official party registration so they can vote in the Keystone State's April 22 closed primary, Politico reported.
The voter registration deadline is March 24. Obama is competing with Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. The New York senator leads in polls in Pennsylvania.
"The more we can get, the better our chances to overcoming these advantages the Clinton campaign has," said Obama spokesman Sean Smith.
The number of party-change applications in February jumped 250 percent from a year earlier, compared to a 65 percent increase in January, Politico reported, citing state Department of State figures.
Jeremy Bird, Obama's Pennsylvania field director, appealed for volunteers this week, Politico said.
"Here in Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of unregistered voters are ready to support Barack," Bird said.
"But we have only two weeks to reach out to them all. That's why people from all over the country are traveling to Pennsylvania to make sure every potential Obama supporter is registered and eligible to vote in the primary on April 22," he added.
The Illinois senator is trying to get independents and Republicans to flip their official party registration so they can vote in the Keystone State's April 22 closed primary, Politico reported.
The voter registration deadline is March 24. Obama is competing with Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. The New York senator leads in polls in Pennsylvania.
"The more we can get, the better our chances to overcoming these advantages the Clinton campaign has," said Obama spokesman Sean Smith.
The number of party-change applications in February jumped 250 percent from a year earlier, compared to a 65 percent increase in January, Politico reported, citing state Department of State figures.
Jeremy Bird, Obama's Pennsylvania field director, appealed for volunteers this week, Politico said.
"Here in Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of unregistered voters are ready to support Barack," Bird said.
"But we have only two weeks to reach out to them all. That's why people from all over the country are traveling to Pennsylvania to make sure every potential Obama supporter is registered and eligible to vote in the primary on April 22," he added.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
» Next in Top News:
Cyprus leader warns against U.N. plan
U.S. President George W. Bush visits the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem on May 16, 2008. (UPI Photo/Amos Ben Gershom/Israeli Government Press Office)
U.S. President Bush visits Israel
Full Photo
| Slideshow
Latest Headlines
Most Popular