Democrats Descend on Missoula, Montana

Missoula, Montana, June 2 -- With Montana's Democratic primaries set to take place on June 3, the party's candidates and supporters are sweeping the state in attempts to woo voters. One of the last states in the nation to hold its primary elections, Montana cities and towns are marked by the approaching vote. It's hard to travel anywhere, be it in one of the state's busy cities or driving through its vast stretches ranch country, without seeing signs supporting either Clinton or Obama posted in storefronts, on private lawns, and on billboards.

Local voters continue to voice their backing of their chosen candidates and remain active in recruiting new voters. This is especially true for the left-leaning city that is Missoula, located in the western part of the state. A surprisingly liberal university community nestled in a state that, until last year, remained staunchly red, Missoula's Democrats were out in force this past week trying to wrangle support for their respective candidates in anticipation of the primary election.

Volunteer campaigners in Hillary Clinton's camp could be found on the corners of busy intersections in Missoula last week, training in Get Out the Vote efforts. The Clinton supporters returned to the streets today to put their training into action, urging drivers to "honk for Hillary" as a reminder to vote in the June 3 primary. The volunteers are also canvassing Missoula on June 2 and 3 in efforts to raise support, in addition to hosting a phone bank on the same days.

Such vigorous volunteer campaigning on the part of Clinton might not be enough to secure the presidential hopeful the Montana Democratic majority, however. Despite Hillary's April speaking engagements in Missoula and Butte, as well as her husband's cycle of stumping visits to no less than ten Montana locations including Missoula, she still trails Obama in the polls. According to a Lee Newspapers poll of 625 registered Montana voters taken between May 19 and 21, Obama holds 52 percent of the state's support to Clinton's 35 percent, with 13 percent of participants undecided. It is unlikely that even the most spirited exhortations to "honk for Hillary" from her supporters can rally enough votes to secure the Montana primary.

That did not stop Missoula's Obama supporters from turning out with their own Get Out the Vote events this past weekend in order to recruit votes and raise awareness for their candidate. On Saturday, May 31, volunteers set up shop at multiple locations at the city's various farmer's markets. They engaged passersby, urging them to vote in Tuesday's primary, and bedecking their audiences with pro-Obama buttons and t-shirts. As the markets closed down in the early afternoon, the Obama campaigners took to the streets in a march led by a pair of bagpipers to further bolster awareness for the candidate.

Like his opponent, Barack Obama personally visited several Montana locations in April and May, huge crowds gathering to hear the candidate speak. A final volunteer effort on behalf of Obama before Tuesday's primary involves urging Missoula supporters to decorate their cars on June 3 with pro-Obama designs and messages. Volunteer campaigners plan to congregate again at the Last Best Primary Party on Tuesday evening to watch the CNN coverage of the primaries and enjoy live entertainment. The celebration will take place at the Wilma Theatre (131 S. Higgins Ave.) in Missoula at 8:30 PM.

Once considered an unequivocal bastion of Republican support, Montana turned blue last year. Judging by the enthusiastic efforts of local pro-Clinton and pro-Obama Democrats alike, the 2008 presidential election is sure to be an interesting and exciting contest in Montana. The June 3 primary elections have certainly brought out the Missoula Democratic voters by the droves, and all the registered blue campaigners are breathlessly counting down to tomorrow's vote.
Charles S. Johnson, Lee Newspapers poll: Obama holds big edge over Clinton in Montana, Missoulian.