In Pennsylvania, Democrat Barack Obama has opened up a big, early lead over Republican John McCain – in the number of local offices.

Obama has 24, McCain has three, not counting an additional seven that serve all Republican candidates.

Whether this gap ultimately makes any difference as to who wins Pennsylvania’s 21 electoral votes Nov. 4 remains to be seen.

But Obama’s strategists say the offices are part of a highly structured, volunteer-heavy plan to help carry a state that is must-win for Obama and high on McCain’s wish list.

In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Craig Schirmer, who is running Obama’s Pennsylvania campaign, laid out a plan to create more than 700 neighborhood teams to cover the state.

The teams will engage in canvassing, house meetings, church visits, phone banks, and the recruitment of additional volunteers.

Schirmer said 247 of the teams are in place, with captains committed to spending 10 to 20 hours per week on campaign work for the duration.

The McCain campaign promises strong outreach efforts of its own; in 2004, the campaign to reelect President Bush made highly effective use of local supporters in their voter-contact efforts, taking care to see that targeted voters heard from neighbors with similar interests.
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