Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

The Republic | azcentral.com

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee are opening offices in Phoenix and Tucson, boosting their ground game in an effort to swing the traditionally red state blue during the November election.

The DNC and Clinton's campaign are setting up operations inside the Arizona Democratic Party's offices in both cities, said party spokesman Enrique Gutierrez. The offices will headquarter campaign activities statewide to help elect Clinton and Democrats up and down the ballot in November.

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego will speak noon Saturday at the office headquarters, 2910 N. Central Ave. In Tucson, former U.S. Congressman Ron Barber, and Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will speak at the opening there. After speeches from supporters at both locations, attendees will make phone calls to Arizona voters to encourage them to support Clinton.

All three speakers traveled to Philadelphia last month to the Democratic National Convention in support of Clinton.

"We're just wanting to get that buzz out there to our folks, so they know where they can come in order to help out," Gutierrez said.

The party has employed 100 paid staffers registering voters, calling voters and going door-to-door for state Democratic candidates, as well as Clinton.

Seth Scott, the co-chief-of-staff to Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, has taken a leave of absence to serve as Clinton’s Arizona campaign director.

Several political experts have told The Arizona Republic that Republican nominee Donald Trump's penchant for offending key constituencies — namely Latinos and women — could put the reliably GOP-leaning state in play for Democrats.

Follow the reporter on Twitter, @yvonnewingett, and Facebook. Reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4712.

