Jill Lemke survived the frost of the Iowa caucuses, so the weekend winds near the Canton waterfront seemed balmy by comparison as the campaign volunteer offered Hillary Clinton bumper stickers to the few scurrying shoppers who would have them.
"It's been kind of a roller coaster," said the 40-year-old Baltimore City planner, who has watched Clinton bounce from early losses to victories and back again. There has been no dampening of enthusiasm among Clinton supporters, Lemke insisted, who know "it is going to be a long campaign."
Even before tomorrow's Super Tuesday caucuses and primaries, the presidential contest has steamrolled into Maryland, which, along with Virginia and the District of Columbia, votes a week from tomorrow in what are shaping up as important races testing the resolve and strength of the remaining candidates.
Maryland is a place where Clinton and her allies are trying to galvanize support, fighting against a surge by Sen. Barack Obama that has revealed itself in polls that show a tightening Democratic contest.
The state's large black population and enthusiastic volunteers are energizing the Obama campaign. But Clinton advocates in the region say they are prepared.
"Everybody [talks] about his momentum, but Hillary Clinton continues to lead in the national polls," said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, a Clinton campaign national co-chairwoman. "Once it goes to a two-person race, of course you expect it to tighten. We think that Senator Clinton will maintain her lead and that she is going to triumph on Super Tuesday."
Tomorrow's contests are unlikely to produce a winner, however, because of Democratic rules that award delegates in proportion to votes received.
Mikulski led a mini rally Saturday in Baltimore, firing up about 50 volunteers before they fanned out to markets, tourist attractions and shopping centers to distribute stickers and recruit new helpers.
The event was held at a union hall near the Ravens football stadium, a symbol of the kind of traditional Democratic support that Clinton has tapped into in Maryland. The New York senator has the backing of Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, and is relying on teachers, government workers and other organized labor groups to staff a get-out-the-vote effort.
"There's a lot of focus on turning out known supporters," said Ray Hoffman, 46, medical director of a city mental health agency.
