Presidential Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama has opened a campaign center in Pickerington.
On Aug. 24, 50 people attended the opening of Obama’s Pickerington campaign office, located at 155 E. Columbus St., near the train tracks.
Pickerington resident Patrick Bowen, a volunteer for the campaign, said the campaign center would recruit volunteers, teach people about the campaign and distribute stickers and yard signs.
Sharen Neuhardt, Democratic congressional candidate for the seventh district, spoke at the open house. The seventh district includes Fairfield County.
Most people attended to learn how to volunteer.
"One interesting thing is (Obama’s) inspiring a lot of people to come out who have never taken part in politics at all," Bowen said. "For me, who has been involved for 16 years, it’s exciting to have new people involved in the process."
The volunteers have been diverse in terms of age and nationality, Bowen said.
In previous years, Bowen worked on various state and local campaigns including serving as campaign manager for Pickerington Councilman Keith Smith. This is the first presidential campaign for which he has volunteered and his first for a democrat.
"I am frustrated with the direction of the country," Bowen said. "It’s time for the Democrats. As far as I know this is the first Democratic presidential office to open in (traditionally conservative) Pickerington. That says a lot."
