The quest for the White House will be fought out at ground level, street by street, in the cities, in the suburbs and even in rural areas.
Except, they won't be fighting much around here.
"We're just not a battleground state," said Kathy Bruce of the Ipswich Democratic Town Committee. "Both presidential candidates put their resources where they're most needed."
Operating from a recently opened regional headquarters at 37 S. Main St., the Ipswich committee is already looking north in its efforts to help Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
"We've had whole groups going up to New Hampshire," volunteer Hope Wigglesworth said. "That will continue. Our aim is to try and be active and responsive."
"We will be there in the biggest numbers we can produce," Bruce said.
It's not all that different for the Republicans, who formally opened their new campaign office at 192 Cabot St., across from
City Hall in Beverly, last night.
"Our efforts will probably divide 75-25 between New Hampshire and Massachusetts," said Beverly Republican City Committee member Brett Schetzsle.
Those labors include making phone calls to identify potential John McCain supporters, the better to get them to the polls in November.
The interest in New Hampshire stems from Massachusetts' status as one of the most reliably Democratic states. Meanwhile, the Granite State, while trending Democratic, is still considered "in play" by some political experts. With a mere four electoral votes, in a close race, New Hampshire could yet be the difference between defeat and victory in November.
All this puts a premium on having offices on the North Shore, within striking distance of the state line.
The move to open a Republican campaign office in Beverly came thanks to an initiative from the city committee. Supporters can now avoid the long trip into Boston, said Barney Keller, GOP spokesman in Boston.
On busy Cabot Street, volunteers are already welcoming people off the street.
"There's a lot of grassroot support," Keller said.
"It's been better than we expected," Schetzsle said.
Despite the Democratic edge statewide, Ipswich boasts one of the few Democratic campaign offices around, Bruce said.
As in Beverly, it was opened at the behest of the local town committee. Clearly visible on Route 1A, the Obama signs are already attracting volunteers from beyond the town.
What efforts are expended directly on the North Shore are likely to be aimed not at the presidential race but at local candidates.
Jeff Beatty is seeking to wrest the U.S. Senate seat from the Democrats, and Rich Baker will oppose Congressman John Tierney, a Salem Democrat. In Ipswich, Don Bumiller will be trying to take one of the few Republican seats in the Massachusetts House from Brad Hill.
There's plenty to be done, according to both sides. Signs must be put together. Phone calls will go out. Telephones demand answering. Envelopes require stuffing.
In such a season, just having an office seems to make a difference.
"I think it's been kind of a catalyst," Wigglesworth said.
Schetzsle is also encouraged. "We hope to get Republicans across the North Shore involved."
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