WAYNE ALLEN
PDT Staff Writer
Supporters and volunteers with the Scioto County Democratic Party gathered Thursday night to celebrate the opening of the Portsmouth Organizing for America Office, at 1018 Chillicothe St., Portsmouth.
Randy Basham, chairman of the Scioto County Democratic Party, said the office will serve as an information hub for the 2012 Barack Obama campaign and local Democratic candidates running for office.
“Obama had a tough go here four years ago in Scioto County. Even though he lost the county he won the state. With 40,000 voters in Scioto County, we believe we can leave our mark after this election on what we’ve done,” Basham said.
He said an effort is being made to bring President Obama back to Portsmouth for a campaign stop.
“We are going to take the same approach we did last time, to get Obama here. We are going to try to push to see if we can get him or the vice president to swing back through here again,” Basham said.
“Since 1860, no Republican has been elected president without winning this state,” said Greg Schultz, state director for Organizing for America Ohio to the gathering. “All elections are about choices. Ohio got a reminder of that in 2010. It’s about a choice and it’s about values.”
In addition to the Portsmouth office, Organizing for America have offices in Troy, Wooster, Mason, Warren, Defiance, Mentor, Lima, Northern Hamilton County, Bowling Green, Toledo, Beavercreek, Youngstown, New Philadelphia, Athens, Cincinnati, Parma, Columbus, Middletown, Dayton, Shaker Heights, Chillicothe, Ohio State University, Ashtabula, Kent, Cheviot, Newark and Whitehall.
Officials with the Scioto County Republican Party say the party is currently looking for potential office locations and hopes to open an office soon.
Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.
















