By Anna Wiernicki

awiernicki@nexstar.tv



AUSTIN, TX—After a close race in Iowa and with Super Tuesday fast-approaching, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are now shifting gears and focusing their campaigns on Texas.



Last week Hillary Clinton announced her first paid Texas campaign staff along with a list of events across the state leading up to the March primary election.



“There are two more states before Super Tuesday, and Texas is the biggest prize on Super Tuesday,” Crystal Perkins, Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party said. “So, now it’s time to set their sights on Texas.”



Clinton attended a rally in San Antonio in October, but has spent most of her time campaigning in other states. However, the former Secretary of State hasn’t forgotten about the Lone Star State. On Friday Clinton added another Texan to her team. Her campaign announced that Carlos Sanchez, the former chief of staff to U.S. Rep Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, would be joining Clinton’s Texas campaign as press secretary.



“We really need Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders down here spreading their message and getting Democrats really excited about the upcoming elections,” Perkins said. “We really need these campaigns to be robust here and to start making movement across the state.”



Jacob Limon, Texas Campaign Director for Bernie Sanders, said they have already recruited “thousands and thousands of volunteers” since recently setting up their campaign headquarters in Austin.



“We’ve been really busy on the ground here building a good field program,” Limon said. “So, far we have recruited thousands and thousands of volunteers and have made hundreds and hundreds of thousands of phone calls.”



Limon said their plan is not just to walk away with the nomination in March, but also to come back and win Texas in November.



“Our game plan is to win the nomination and then come back and win Texas in November,” Limon said. “Bernie is energizing a lot of young voters, he’s energizing a lot of first time people, and the raw material is really there in Texas to turn Texas blue.”



Michael Joyce with the Texas Republican Party said he’s not concerned about Texas turning blue, simply based on the results of past elections.



Starting in 1980, Texas voters have consistently selected the Republican candidate during the November general election. In addition, the last time that a Democrat won a statewide office in Texas was in 1994.



“While the demographics of the state continue to change, we are very confident in our minority engagement efforts and know our values resonate with the voters we are actively seeking out,” Joyce said. “Between the efforts of the Texas GOP and the efforts of our outstanding statewide officials, especially Governor Abbott, we are confident our message will continue to speak to the values of our state. As for the notion of Texas turning blue during this cycle, Chairman Mechler has a message for Texas Democrats; not on my watch.”



Even though odds are not in their favor to break the red trend lasting nine presidential elections, Limon said the Bernie Sanders campaign is up for the challenge.



“Texas with a little bit of work is very winnable for Bernie,” Limon said. “We’re anticipating that we’re going to win the nomination, and we are going to expand the electorate, get our voters to turn out and turn Texas blue as part of the overall strategy.”