Obama campaign opens county office

In a small business park office off Prince William Parkway, presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama again made history.

He, to the best of anyone's knowledge, became the first presidential hopeful to open a campaign office in Prince William County -- an area that has experienced tremendous growth in the last 10 years and is now being seen by many as a place that, as far as politics go, is up for grabs.

"This is a signal of the commitment Barack Obama has made to Virginia," said Keith Scarborough, the Prince William area coordinator for Obama's campaign, to a crowd of roughly 100 who gathered outside the office at 4308 Ridgewood Center Drive. "I hope you will make this headquarters a home away from home."

The Obama campaign opened 10 other offices across Virginia on Saturday.

Among the officials in attendance were Del. Paul F. Nichols, D-Occoquan, gubernatorial candidate Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, Sen. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller, D-Fairfax, and Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi.

Moran got the crowd riled up, talking about the struggling economy, high fuel prices and the need for change.

"With all that to worry about, complain about and worry about," Moran said, "you're getting off the couch to do something about it. … We cannot be on the sidelines of history."

The two full-time campaign staffers who will run the office said efforts would mostly be focused on registering new voters, recruiting volunteers and canvassing neighborhoods.

Immediately following the speeches, people ushered into the office, out of the sweltering sun.

A large sign counting down the days left until election hangs on the back wall, and clipboards with volunteer sign-up sheets covered a table in the reception area in the three-room office.

Steven Coney, 48, of Dumfries, said he is engaged in this presidential race more than any other.

"If they would have been opening this office in Richmond, that's where I'd be," he said.

Coney said he plans to help by knocking door-to-door and contribute food for campaign staffers and volunteers working long hours.

In late May, presumptive GOP nominee John McCain opened his Virginia headquarters in Pentagon City.

The Arizona senator has five other campaign offices throughout the state, including one in Fredericksburg and another in Fairfax, which opened last week, said Gail Gitcho, McCain's mid-Atlantic communications director. Three other offices are slated to open soon, she said.

"We of course believe that Virginia is going to remain a red state, but we're not taking anything for granted," Gitcho said.

Additionally, Prince William County Republican Committee chair Lyle Beefelt said their headquarters will be available to McCain campaigners and that hours will be extended as the campaign draws nearer.

The Democratic Party of Virginia has set up a coordinated campaign office in the headquarters of the Prince William County Democratic Committee in Glendale Plaza for the senatorial, congressional and presidential races, said Jared Leopold, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

"This clearly is going to be by far and away the largest ever presidential focus we've had in Prince William County in the history of the commonwealth," he said.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.