In the midst of insurance offices, a Chinese restaurant, and a tattoo store, the small storefront in Griffland Plaza may have lacked a marquee, but a steady of stream of energized supporters convened at the local campaign office for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night to do phone banking.
Primary season in Indiana is heating up.
The white walls of Clinton’s campaign office were almost bare except for posters with her logo — a blue “H” struck by a red arrow pointing to the right. A volunteer handed out voter phone lists, some topics to emphasize on their calls, and cellphones to more than a dozen people who walked through the door. Campaign staff pulled out more folding chairs and tables as more people arrived.
The primary is less than two weeks away — on May 3 — and campaigns are opening offices throughout Northwest Indiana to organize efforts to build support for their candidates. Clinton’s rival U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign office in Hobart opened in mid-March, while Clinton’s office opened its doors last week. GOP front-runner Donald Trump’ campaign opened an office this week on Broad Street in Griffith.
Many are putting their support into action by trying to convince occasionally skeptical voters to cast a vote.
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Most of the Clinton volunteers on Wednesday night were women, as the campaign was hosting a “Women-to-Women” event to spotlight Republican efforts to curb access to reproductive health care access, in particular Indiana’s House Enrolled Act 1337 — which largely bans abortions sought due to genetic abnormalities and places additional restrictions on doctors.
Griffith resident Teresa Villarreal said she was pleasantly surprised by her conversations with three male voters, who said they’re definitely voting for Clinton.
“I even asked them if they would volunteer for the campaign and they said they’d consider it,” Villarreal said.
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Indiana usually ranks near the bottom in terms of voter turnout — with 55.2 percent turnout in 2012 and an abysmal 28 percent in the 2014 midterm election. Villarreal said informing people about early voting locations can possibly make a difference in terms of whether they get out to vote or not.
Villarreal said she attended a few events with then-U.S. Sen. Clinton during the 2008 primary, so she was excited when the campaign opened an office in Griffith. She said the race for the Democratic nomination has provided real discussion on issues like health care and terrorism.
“I like Bernie and his ideas, but I think that Hillary will be best able to step into the job on the first day. And we know she can work with the system,” Villarreal said.
For Schererville resident Betsy Hunt, a retired health care administrator, this election is crucial.
“I’m volunteering because she has to win,” Hunt said. “From health care to women’s issues to her experience in the world, she has it all.”
Hunt has watched Clinton’s efforts at promoting universal health care since the 1990s and she admires Clinton’s drive.
Hebron resident Laura Churilla said calling voters can be a bit daunting at first, but she was already able to convince one voter to support Clinton.
“I believe in her policies,” Churilla said. “She’s the person who I believe should be running the country.”
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The colorful campaign signs for local, state and national candidates pepper the lawn of the small, stone-colored office building that houses Sanders’ Hobart campaign office — giving a just hint of what goes on inside.
Located across the street from the Strack & Van Til grocery store, Sanders’ office was pretty low-key Tuesday afternoon. But there was a steady stream of new volunteers being trained to canvass for the candidate, while others just came in for campaign signs.
Hobart Councilman Dave Vinzant, D-4th, whose business is located in the same building, stopped by to chat with the volunteers and pick up a few bumper stickers to pass out.
The Sanders campaign has three paid staff members — usually called field organizers — that organize and train volunteers and keep data on voter engagement.
Chicago native Lanetta Thomas volunteered for the Sanders campaign in January. She said she admired his record and his message.
“I wanted an honest politician,” Thomas said. “Someone who has been consistent with (his) message throughout his career.”
It’s not her first time working for a political campaign; she worked as a canvasser for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.
When volunteers approach voters face-to-face, much of their pitch focuses on where and when they will be voting, Thomas said. Then they try to drill down on which issues are important to voters to see which candidate appeals to them, Thomas said.
“A lot of people out here are working class, so we’ve encountered both strong Bernies and strong Trumps,” Thomas said. “There’s no in between.”
Thomas said local issues — like public opposition to the proposed GEO Group immigrant detention center in Gary — play to Sanders’ strengths.
“Senator Sanders has been opposed to private prisons,” she said.