Both Presidential Campaigns Hope to Sway Second District Voters

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OMAHA (KPTM) - "I'm very proud to announce that this Sunday, the Barack Obama campaign will open its third office here in Omaha!" Mayor Mike Fahey announced Thursday afternoon.

For the third time in four weeks, Barack Obama is opening a local campaign office. He's hoping to sway voters in the second district. "Transforming sentiment into a win in the second district is not an easy task," Fahey said.

"Let me be clear, we are competing here - that's because Nebraskans know this year is different," said John Berge with the Obama campaign. The first two openings for Obama's Omaha offices drew about 2,000 supporters - causing some to ask, "why isn't McCain opening an official office here in Omaha?"

"We don't have all the money the other side has. We don't because Barack Obama takes public financing, and McCain only takes campaign financing!" Hal Daub is the chairman for McCain's Nebraska campaign - he says republicans have their own strategy to win the second district.

"We're going to sway the voters by spreading the word by what John McCain and Sarah Palin mean to our country and the future of the world. Sunday, Sarah Palin visited the Heartland, and Daub says visits like that mean more to Nebraska voters than the opening of a campaign office - but some Obama supporters disagree.

"We've seen Nebraskans are extremely motivated to deliver this electoral vote for Barack Obama, and try to continue to knock on doors and make 1,000 phone calls everyday," said Berge.

While Obama staffers are working 14-hour-days and using phone calls to pursue voters, McCain supporters here in Nebraska have knocked on 18,000 doors the last two weekends, trying to spread the McCain message.