Polls open at noon today in central and northern New York for one of the most contested presidential primaries in New York state history. Both registered Democrats and Republicans will choose who they want to see as their party’s standard bearer in the race for president. The big push now is to get supporters out to vote.
"Hi, my name is Cynthia and I’m calling from the Hillary Clinton campaign in New York. How are you today? I’m wondering if we can depend on your support tomorrow in the primary," asked Cynthia Cherny, who has been making calls to prospective voters all across the state from Clinton’s Syracuse call bank.
Cherny said some people hang up thinking she wants money, but most people are receptive, although she’s had to do some extra work one one front.
"So, today I got online to find out how you say in Spanish, 'Are you voting tomorrow for Hillary?' And that’s what I’m going to do when I get the next Spanish speaking person," Cherny said.
Bernie Sanders booster Kellie Brauchle has been going door to door for her favorite candidate for a couple of days now. And, her visits go beyond reminding someone to go to the polls.
"There’s a lot of people who are undecided still," Bracuhle said. "So even talking with those people, giving them our pamphlets, giving them any information they have, steering them towards his website.”
Syracuse Democratic Party Chair Tim Carroll said these kinds of grassroots operations are especially important in primary elections, because fewer people vote.
“And the way you do it is quite simple, is basic human contact," Caroll said. "With all the money that’s spent on TV, I think it’s water off a duck’s back to people. They’ll make their mind up and what they’re looking for is to be asked to vote, and they pull the trigger on primary day.”
