Camp Hillary teaches locals how to campaign
“We are forming grassroots activities and that includes phone banks, that includes visibility,” said Shawn Bagley, with the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton for America Campaign.
A Camp Hillary kicked off at the Center for Change Democratic Party Headquarters in Seaside to teach activists how to get involved to help the former senator and secretary of state become president.
“Hillary in the primary beat Barack Obama here in the primary in 2008,” said Bagley. “So it’s Hillary country from Highway 1 all the way to Highway 101.”
Event coordinators said the four hour workshop training is geared towards a class of 10 to 15 people but only about five showed up.
“The fact that they only had a handful of people is not particularly significant,” said political expert David Anderson. “The fact the Clinton campaign was able to organize a training workshop for its local campaigners at all shows the extent of secretary Clinton’s ground game.”
Anderson said Clinton using local connections and not just relying on national ads and big splash events may help her in the long run.
“We know from evidence if you can get a local volunteer base it makes a big difference,” said Anderson.
While Hillary may be winning in the polls political experts believe gaining the vote on the Central Coast might be a challenge.
“The weakness there is that the Central Coast is more liberal than the democratic party nationally,” said Anderson.
Many liberals on the Monterey Peninsula have thrown their support behind Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
Last weekend, there was strong turnout for a Barnstorm for Bernie event in Watsonville, CA.
“He has a lot of very attractive ideas in his campaign,” said Monterey resident Walter Malecki.
“I’m beginning to feel Hillary will pretty much say whatever she has to say to get elected,” said Carmel resident Brooke Lewis. “I think she’s liberal but I don’t think she’s as liberal as I am.”
Hillary activists said organizing groups are planning more events and say they’re confident she’ll take home the big win.
