NORTH BEND - Hoping to secure the Democratic presidential nomination in the May 20 primary in Oregon, the Barack Obama campaign targets voters in Coos County by opening up a North Bend office.

Saturday was the official grand opening of that office at Pony Village Mall, where dozens of volunteers were on hand to field questions and gain support for Obama's campaign.

"We're going to the doors of registered Democrats and asking for their support for Obama and if they voted yet," says Volunteer Sharon Ramirez. "We're also phoning Democrats and asking them if they will vote for Obama."

Ramirez adds, they decided to open up the office, since Obama's known for having the support of larger cities in the state. Now, they're hoping this office will help Obama pick up steam with voters in rural counties.

"We're his surrogates here," says Ramirez. "We're trying to spread the word about him because he has some very devoted people here, people working really long hard hours."

The new Obama headquarters will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from now until May 20.

On a related note, another person who's helping fuel the Obama campaign is Ray Mabus, a former Governor of Mississippi. He will be speaking at the North Bend Labor Hall on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.