 "Photo: Caleb Miller")
A training event at the Travis County Democratic Party office this weekend drew approximately 60 campaign volunteers in support of Barack Obama's presidential bid. The event occurred the same day that people nationwide received text messages with Obama's announcement of Sen. Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate.
Camp Obama is designed to train volunteers to take on greater leadership roles in the party, said local campaign manager Ian Davis.
"No campaign I've been involved with has invested this many resources into training volunteers," Davis said. "It shows that Obama is really committed to grassroots campaigning."
Davis also said he is excited about Obama's running-mate selection.
"From everybody I talk to, Biden is universally respected," Davis said. "Obama is picking someone based on qualifications, competence and ability to govern and not on state electoral votes."
Radio-television-film Ph.D. candidate Katherine Haenschen, one of the camp's trainers, said she also believes Biden is a strong choice for attracting voters.
"His narrative of personal struggle and hard work should appeal to any voter," she said. "His background and qualifications give him a strong national appeal."
Another camp organizer, J.D. Gins, helped familiarize attendees with Obama's platform issues and recruited volunteers to campaign in swing states.
"I think we're going to make inroads in all our states," he said, adding that Texas is expected to provide more volunteers than any other state except New York and California.
The Travis County office hopes to send 200 Texas volunteers to New Mexico, 200 to Colorado and 180 to Georgia on self-funded trips to canvass neighborhoods, encourage voter registration and set up phone banks.
Ryan Ellis, government senior and president of the UT student group College Republicans at Texas, said the club is focusing more on local campaigns.
"The Texas State Republican Party is confident that McCain will win Texas, and we're trying to focus our efforts where we can make a difference," Ellis said.
Davis said he expects Obama to continue utilizing local organizations as a major part of his campaign.
"Most candidates run from the top down," he said. "Obama is working from the bottom up. It's a unique strategy to empower volunteers to this extent."
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