If their pocketbooks are any indication, the people of Athens County are pulling for Sen. Hillary Clinton in this year's presidential race.
Since February 2007, Clinton has raised $6,433 ' more than any other candidate ' in Athens County, according to the Federal Election Commission's Web site. The commission's records only account for donors who pledge more than $200.
But those dollars don't necessarily translate into votes, said Michael McTeague, a political analyst and interim dean of Ohio University-Eastern. The emergence of smaller Internet donations makes it difficult to gauge support, particularly in the case of Sen. Barack Obama, who raised $2,938 in Athens County since Jan. 2007.
This is just something new
he said. You can't really make any connection with those numbers yet.
The Athens County Democratic Party doesn't endorse presidential candidates in the primary and doesn't contribute any money to presidential campaigns, said Susan Gwinn, county party chairwoman and Democratic candidate for Athens County prosecutor. But that doesn't stop individuals within the party from donating.
Gwinn has given $4,600 to Clinton's campaign, calling her the strongest and most electable candidate. That money means a lot when trying to win an election, she said.
Money is what drives campaigns whether you like it or not Gwinn said.
OU psychology professor Francis Bellezza, who gave $250 to Sen. Chris Dodd and $1,350 to John Edwards, agrees. Despite being disappointed that his candidates are out of the race, he doesn't regret contributing.
It's a person's duty to be involved ' even in a modest way
he said.
Professor emeritus of political science and former Athens mayoral candidate Ed Baum also felt the need to help candidate Sen. John McCain. Baum has given $301 to the McCain campaign and will probably donate again between now and November.
(The McCain campaign) probably contacts me at least once a week about it
he said.
Staffers for the Obama campaign have set up camp in the old New-To-You Shoppe on Stimson Avenue, already starting a get-out-the-vote effort for the Ohio primary on March 4, said Chris Farrell, Southeast Ohio field organizer for the campaign.
Two more offices, in Chillicothe and Steubenville, are expected to open soon.
While the Clinton campaign doesn't have any offices in Southeastern Ohio, it expects to open at least one in the coming days, said Isaac Baker, spokesman for the campaign.
The presence of both campaigns will be strong in the area and the focus will shift from the fundraising process to energizing the electorate, said Marti Adams, spokeswoman for the Obama campaign.
Events like the Obama sign rally last Saturday on East State Street will be the norm, Ferrell said. Door-to-door campaigning, small meetings and speeches will also be used over the next two weeks. No fundraising events are planned before the election.
The Clinton campaign will also be focusing much more on meeting face-to-face with voters, Baker said.
McTeague predicted a blitz from now until the polls close, particularly as the Clinton camp works Southeastern Ohio for hardcore
blue-collar voters. Despite the Republican race coming to a close, candidates from both parties will be trying to get their word out in Ohio, he added.
This is important
McTeague said. They're going to work Ohio hard ' Democrats and Republicans.
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