Yard signs for
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama are likely to appear
sooner than flowers on many Rapid City lawns following the opening
next week of the Illinois senator's campaign office in North
Rapid.
Nathan Peterson,
Obama's South Dakota campaign manager, said Friday that the
campaign will open its Rapid City office in a strip mall at the
corner of Haines and Anamosa streets.
The campaign is
celebrating the grand opening of its Sioux Falls office today and
planning a similar event in Rapid City.
"We've got our
space out in Rapid City, and we're hoping for a similar grand
opening sometime next week," Peterson said.
That will be
followed by another office in Aberdeen, expected to open about May
1, he said. The opening of the Rapid City office will be followed
by organization meetings with Obama volunteers in the area and the
distribution of yard signs and other campaign materials, Peterson
said.
The campaign, which
is aiming its efforts in South Dakota for the June 3 primary, got a
boost from reservation country this week when four tribal chairman
and tribal presidents endorsed the Democratic senator from
Illinois. Oglala Sioux Tribe President John Yellowbird Steele,
Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Rodney Bordeaux, Lower Brule Sioux
Tribe Chairman Michael Jandreau and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty made their endorsement in an
editorial piece published in Indian Country Today.
Oglala Vice
President William "Shorty" Brewer and Rosebud Councilman Robert
More also endorsed Obama.
Peterson said the
endorsements reflect Obama's commitment to Native Americans and
their issues, as well as his appeal to a variety of
voters.
"We are certainly
honored to have the support of those tribal leaders. It's a very
important base of support for us," Peterson said. "It represents
the broad appeal that Sen. Obama has to a wide variety of
groups."
Contact Kevin
Woster at 394-8413 or
kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com
