Clinton campaign opens Greensburg office

Hillary Clinton's campaign headquarters opened in Greensburg on Saturday, and her true-blue supporters were on hand, talking up the New York senator and, for the most part, going easy on her rival for the Democratic nomination for president, Sen. Barack Obama.

The office at 113 N. Main St. looked very much like a working headquarters. Pasted on the walls were large sheets of paper on which volunteers were to affix their names and the times when they would be able to make telephone calls or canvass neighborhoods on Clinton's behalf.

In fact, these grassroot chores have been well under way for weeks, the volunteers who were on hand for yesterday's grand opening said.

"Come to my house this Wednesday," pleaded Belinda Staffieri of Belle Vernon, who attended yesterday's event with her friends, Erin Sinko and Colleen Arnowitz, both of Monongahela and both daughters of former Democratic Congressman Austin Murphy.

Staffieri said she expected a large group of Clinton backers -- both men and women -- to make phone calls to Democrats across the state in support of the former first lady at the gathering on Wednesday evening.

Luella Zeminski of Greensburg, a greeter at the Clinton headquarters yesterday, said the voters she has spoken to "think (Clinton) is the one who is going to turn things around" for the country.

Asked about Obama, Zeminski said "the important thing is to elect a Democrat in November," suggesting she could switch gears and back the Illinois senator.

After a brief pause, Zeminski added she and others were "thinking only Hillary" at this point.

"We have people who are inspired by the cause" of making Clinton president, she added.