http://www.wjtv.com/gulfcoastwest/jtv/news.PrintView.-content-articles-JTV-2008-02-29-0029.html Obama Opens MS Campaign Office
Friday, Feb 29, 2008 - 11:42 PM Updated: 11:57 PM
By Ross Adams
For the first time in years a major presidential candidate is courting Mississippi voters in his bid for the White House. Illinois Senator Barack Obama has opened a campaign headquarters on State Street in downtown Jackson. The Democratic presidential hopeful has five paid staffers working in the office here. 1,000 people have volunteered to help get out the vote for the state's March 11th Mississippi primary. Obama has also started running political ads on television stations across the state. Some Jackson voters say they had already decided to support the Illinois senator's campaign even before they saw the ad. "He got a good point because what we need is good health care, good schools for kids we need all of that he got my vote," says Tina Thompson. Irene Coleman says, "I believe that it's time for change and we do need change because we have many people who can't make it without benefits." But even though the Democratic presidential candidate enjoys near rock star status at political rallies, some voters say the commercial leaves a lot to be desired. Tracy Splitter was turned off by one particular word in Obama's TV pitch to Mississippi voters. "The message is not hopeful when it has the word cannot in it three different times okay...he uses the word cannot too many times.”