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Published February 02, 2008 08:46 pm - Despite the immediate Joplin area’s history as a Republican stronghold, local Democrats have still built ad hoc campaigns for Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and expect a good turnout at the polls Tuesday. Local Democrats expect good turnout By Derek Spellman dspellman@joplinglobe.com Despite the immediate Joplin area’s history as a Republican stronghold, local Democrats have still built ad hoc campaigns for Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and expect a good turnout at the polls Tuesday. On the Missouri side, campaigning consists mostly of grass-roots volunteers seeking each other out and building informal associations for the primary. On the Kansas side, Clinton’s campaign staff has been working with a local group to mobilize support for the caucus. Lee McDaniel, 37, a Joplin mortgage sales manager, said a local group of about 20 volunteers has formed to aid Clinton’s presidential bid. “I believe Hillary is the most electable candidate by far,” McDaniel said. The group plans to coordinate with the state campaign teams for efforts that will include calling registered voters, canvassing area neighborhoods, and offering rides to the polls Tuesday. McDaniel said he has been a supporter of both Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton since the early ’90s. Her proposed health-care reforms and record as an advocate for health care for children are key issues for him. McDaniel said local volunteers have found Clinton’s area supporters run a spectrum. Most are women, although he said gender is just one of multiple reasons why. The New York senator also enjoys strong support from local unions and veterans, who are grateful for how she has responded to their needs, he said. “I think it is a cross section,” he said of Clinton’s support base. On the Kansas side, Tony Carpino, a retired postmaster, has been spearheading the campaign for Clinton for the state senatorial district that encompasses all of Crawford County and parts of Cherokee and Bourbon counties. The Kansas Democratic caucuses also are set Tuesday. Carpino said Clinton’s local supporters have been firing on all cylinders and coordinating with the senator’s campaign office. Several dozen volunteers, he said, have manned phone banks to make calls. Other volunteers have been canvassing neighborhoods and plan to send out letters urging residents to come out and support Clinton at the caucus. “The older people are really enthused about the caucus,” Carpino said. Carpino said supporters have been touting Clinton’s experience and plans for health care during their push. Although the economy has been emerged as a critical issue for voters nationwide, health care still looms large in his area of Kansas. “Health care is really what I am finding out is No. 1,” he said. 
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