Obama headquarters opens on Wabash

Barack Obama campaign headquarters office, 425 Wabash Ave., was transformed Saturday morning during its grand opening with children's pictures adorning the wall, supporters chatting over coffee and dessert and a saxophone player entertaining outside.

"I believe that the headquarters will encourage more students to get involved with voter registration drives and allow them the chance to fellowship with other supporters of Barack Obama, while also giving them the chance to persuade other voters on why they should support Obama," said Michael D. Lofton II, a senior sociology major and member of Students for Barack Obama.

Todd Nation, the city council president, and Jesse Moore, the regional field director for the Terre Haute office, both spoke to the crowd of more than 30 supporters at the grand opening.

"You can have a role in keeping this place open," Nation said.

The meeting recruited volunteers to canvass the neighborhood for voter registration and to work in the Obama headquarters. Volunteers were quickly trained, given packets and sent to work.

"I've already done some volunteer work, helping out here in the office and wearing my T-shirts everyday," said Peggy Tierney in her yellow Obama support T-shirt. "I think he has great character and I think he will do the right thing, not just the political thing."

Volunteers of every race, age and gender filled the room to support the candidate they felt was the best.

"I do not think we need another Clinton in office," said Jess Campbell holding her 10-month-old daughter. "I think he (Obama) has a personal insight and is a very personable man. I think he can bring us back together again; I think we are too separated now, and I believe he can make us a country again."

The Obama headquarters stands directly next to the Saratoga, the restaurant where only a couple of weeks ago hundreds of Hillary Clinton supporters cheered and waited as Clinton spoke.

"Well, before Hillary Clinton's visit to Terre Haute there was a great turnout, so I believe turnout will continue and increase as time winds down to the May 6 primaries," Lofton said.

The campaign concentrates, not on opponents, but rather spreading the word about voter registration and why Obama is the best man for the job, Moore said.

"The Clinton campaign is running a very strong campaign in Indiana," Moore said. "You won't hear me say a negative thing about it."

Instead, the Obama headquarters aims to register 2,000 voters by April 7, the deadline for voter registration. The goal for Saturday was for volunteers to collectively get 500 voters registered.

"I would encourage everybody to get involved because this election will determine the direction this country is going to go-whether it be more of the same, or something new," Lofton said. "Hopefully we get something new and someone with fresh eyes on the issues and someone who can inspire us all. But no matter what candidate one supports they should be involved in this political process, and one way is making sure they are registered to vote."

Energy was repeatedly mentioned as volunteers prepared to leave and work for the change they want to see.

"There are way too many people in this room and too much energy to let this go to waste," Moore said.

Voter registration will be available Tuesday at 1 p.m. in at the Hulman Center Meeting Room during the Town Hall meeting with Sen. Obama's foreign policy advisors.