Published: April 19, 2008 10:16 pm         

Clinton opens new headquarters in Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE — The sign in Hillary Clinton’s new Terre Haute headquarters stakes her claim — Indiana is Clinton Country.

The Democratic presidential candidate’s new headquarters at 500 N. Third St. was filled with about 25 volunteers at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, ready to begin canvassing the community with literature in support of Clinton.

Local Realtor Mike Ofsansky, who found the building for Sen. Clinton’s campaign, said the connection was more than just business.

“I’m for Hillary 150 percent,” he said, noting his support for her experience and overall qualifications.

Ready to roll out the campaign literature was local supporter Eloise Weymouth, who said she’s “supporting Hillary Clinton for a lot of reasons.”

Clinton’s experience, ranging from corporate attorney to first lady of Arkansas to first lady of the United States and Democratic senator from New York, add up to a lifetime of knowledge.

And it’s that knowledge and experience that Weymouth hopes will help bring aid to the suffering middle class.

“I’m falling out of the middle class,” she said, adding that she has a son in the military and doesn’t just want to hear about troop removals, but she wants a plan that will work in both the long- and short-term.

“And because she’s a woman, and we need a different perspective,” she said, noting that the “old way” is not working.

Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama, is “captivating” and makes for a “great candidate,” but she feels he lacks experience.

“He’s starting out with a lot of enthusiasm, but she’s been there,” she said, adding that she prefers an experienced surgeon to an enthusiastic one.

Qualifications were also on the mind of Indiana State University graduate student Tressman Goode, who said “I believe she has the leadership experience that this country needs.”

America needs “to be brought together,” he said, adding that “it’s time for a woman to be president.”

Clinton supporter Kathy Easthom noted that her parents recently received a solicitation for monetary donations from the Obama campaign, something she felt violated his statements about campaign donations.

“I think people ought to know that,” she said.

The regional director for the Clinton campaign, Erin Burger, said people are welcome to stop by the new headquarters between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“We’d love people to come and volunteer,” she said.

Phone banking and community canvassing will run April 27 through May 4, right up to the “GOTV” time, which stands for Get Out The Vote.

Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.