As the date approached for the last Democratic presidential debate of the year, volunteers for the two leading contenders felt a sense of urgency in La Plata County.
That Friday before the Dec. 19 debate, Bernie Sanders – the formidable underdog – was fighting off reports that his campaign benefited from a software glitch that allowed it to improperly access confidential voter information collected by Hillary Clinton’s camp.
In response, the Democratic National Committee locked Sanders’ campaign out of the crucial voter database, considered the “lifeblood” of campaigns, as the information connects campaigns to a network of possible volunteers and supporters.
By that night, the DNC had allowed Sanders and his people back into the database. But the incident highlighted just how fragile the state of the election is, and how critical a grass-roots network is to Sanders.
“We cannot reach out to those independent or unregistered voters without that access. I’m honestly scared,” Ana Moran, a senior at Fort Lewis College and a leading Sanders volunteer in Durango, said before the database opened back up.
For Sanders supporters, reaching unaffiliated and unregistered voters is critical, as those tend to be people the campaign can coax away from the establishment.
The campaign’s time to woo voters is running out, with the approach of the Jan. 4 deadline for Colorado voters to register with a party to participate in the March 1 caucus.
At caucus meetings, party members stump for candidates and then elect delegates to select candidates at nominating conventions. The process can be confusing and intimidating to political neophytes, so campaigns are focusing on educating voters.
In recent weeks, the Sanders campaign hired a state director, who is working from a recently opened office in an enclave of Denver. Official campaign representatives are expected in Durango on Jan. 4, when the campaign will organize a more permanent structure in La Plata County. The idea is that a string of grass-roots networks will merge into the official campaign.
A self-described “democratic socialist,” Sanders has appealed to throngs of voters who have grown tired of mainstream politics. They feel the winds of change blowing from Sanders’ direction, as he takes on banks and the “1 percent,” highlighting pleas for social justice over fears stemming from foreign terrorists.
His message seems to resonate in Durango, where Sanders bumper stickers and campaign signs are displayed down city blocks. At debate watch parties, supporters commiserate over a “sad state of affairs,” viewing any detractors as a part of the problem caused by the “machine” that is American politics. The recent rift with the DNC only served to underscore this tension.
“There’s a lot more outspoken support of Bernie, and I hope that translates into there being a majority support for Bernie,” Moran said. “I believe there’s majority support. That might be just because I hope there is. But I’ve seen that more ... Bernie has the Southwest.”
But that energy has not translated to financial donations to Sanders in Colorado and in La Plata County. Clinton has raised nearly $1.3 million in contributions in Colorado, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. She has raised $7,235 specifically in the La Plata County region.
Sanders has reported $223,215 in contributions statewide, with only $646 coming from the La Plata County area.
Nationally, however, Sanders has literally given Clinton a run for her money. He raised more than $41 million in total by the end of the third quarter, with an impressive $26 million in that quarter alone. His campaign is unique in that it has received small donations from millions of contributors, and it has refused to form a SuperPAC.
Clinton raised more than $76 million in total nationally by the end of the third quarter, with $28 million coming in the third quarter.
Both camps are preparing their fourth-quarter disclosures, which are expected in January. Sanders is hoping to keep up with Clinton – or outpace her. He recently broke the fundraising record for most contributions-to-date in a presidential campaign, surpassing 2.3 million.
But Clinton supporters in Southwest Colorado are hardly panicking. Clinton’s official ground game in the state has been growing for nearly four months, establishing boots on the ground about three months ahead of Sanders.
In Durango, the Clinton camp has focused on trainings ahead of the caucus, as well as phone-banking. It has support coming from the Fort Lewis campus, despite Sanders’ appeal to college students.
“So far it has been an easy sell,” said Kathleen Adams, a Durango resident serving in a leadership role as a volunteer for the Clinton campaign.
She said it has been relatively simple to recruit volunteers and supporters.
“That can be like pulling teeth in some situations, when you’re trying to get volunteers to do anything,” Adams said. “We have an enthusiastic, good beginning workforce.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
To get involved
Voters affiliated with Democratic Party will caucus on March 1 to show support for local and state candidates and to elect delegates for the March 12 county assembly. They also will vote for presidential candidates. Here are some key dates and contact information:
Monday, Jan. 4: Last day to affiliate with a political party to vote in the March 1 precinct caucuses.
Monday, Feb. 1: Last day to update address to participate in the March 1 party precinct caucuses.
Tuesday, March 1: Precinct caucuses, 7-9 p.m.
Caucus locations: Go to www.laplatadems.org/2016-party-caucus-information.
