Obama opens office in Dayton

First lady delivers phone message to local volunteers.

DAYTON — The Republicans have not picked a presidential nominee yet, but President Barack Obama’s Ohio team opened its Dayton headquarters Thursday night looking ahead to the November election.

The headquarters, at 411 E. Fifth St. in the Historic Oregon District, is the third Obama campaign office in Ohio. The others are in Chillicothe and Shaker Heights near Cleveland.

During the grand opening, first lady Michelle Obama spoke by phone to a room full of volunteers and supporters. “We’re going to finish what we started,” Obama told the crowd. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.

Obama told the audience she was coming to Ohio on Feb. 23. She will hold a fundraiser at the Westin Hotel in downtown Cincinnati.

Republican presidential candidates also are preparing to campaign in Ohio in the next month ahead of the March 6 primary.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has events planned for Akron and Columbus on Feb. 18. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney headlines the Cuyahoga County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day dinner Feb. 16 in Mayfield Heights near Cleveland.

None of the GOP candidates have opened field offices in the Dayton area.

Jessica Kershaw, press secretary for Obama for America Ohio, said the Dayton office will be used for phone banks, canvassing kickoffs and other events.