Hillary Clinton Returns To Philadelphia To Launch Voter Registration Drive
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Hillary Clinton will be back in Philadelphia Tuesday for the first time since claiming the Democratic presidential nomination here. Her visit is part of an effort to register three-million new voters before the November election.
Taking a page from President Obama's election strategy, Secretary Clinton is running voter registration drives in all 50 states.
"It's a great way to mobilize supporters," said Denise Horn, the Director of African American Media for the Clinton campaign, "and a lot of this is going to be a hub for our organizing activities."
Horn says Clinton will kick off the local effort, then volunteers, including hip-hop artist Freeway, will begin canvassing immediately.
Polls predict that Clinton will win big in Philadelphia and its suburbs, but, Horn says, it has to be big enough to counter what her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, could do in the rest of the state.
"This is going to make sure that folks know what's going on," she said. "I mean, we have 87 more days left so how are we going to make sure that folks are energized, mobilized and ready to vote."
Republican strategist Charlie Gerow says his party needs to pump up its effort.
"Time, frankly, is a wasting. We have less than 90 days to election day and less than 60 to the end of the registration period," he said. "Now is the time to start. This is the time where the old-fashioned blocking and tackling of retail politics comes into play in a big way.
Pennsylvania is considered a battleground state, though it's voted Democrat in the last six presidential elections.
The registration deadline in Pennsylvania is October 11.
