Clinton, Sanders opening Memphis offices

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Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are opening campaign offices in Memphis as the Democratic presidential nominee hopefuls ramp up their ground games ahead of Tennessee’s March 1 “Super Tuesday” primary election.

On the Republican side, several of the campaigns are also expanding their local operations and opening Nashville-area offices ahead of the start of early voting Wednesday.

Sanders was the f irst of the candidates to open an office in Memphis. His team rented space in the Chickasaw Crossing shopping center at 2869 Poplar.

Former Memphis mayor A C Wharton leased the same space for his East Memphis office during his unsuccessful re-election campaign last year.

The office is already operational, with seven staffers, but will have a grand opening at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Clinton’s Memphis off ice will open late this week, said Holly McCall, the campaign’s Tennessee spokeswoman. She couldn’t confirm the location without receiving final approval from the national campaign.

Clinton has a 3-1 lead over Sanders among registered, self-identifying Democrats, according to a Middle Tennessee State University poll released at the end of January.

In a crowded field of Republican candidates, business mogul Donald Trump was the top choice for 33 percent, compared to Sen. Ted Cruz’s 17 percent, the poll found.

Shelby County Commission chairman Terry Roland, who is the honorary chairman of Trump’s West Tennessee operation, said Monday that Trump’s team doesn’t have immediate plans to open an office. The team will set up locations around the area where supporters can pick up signs, he said.

Cruz supporters were working Monday to secure a Memphis-area office, said Ninth District chairwoman Lynn Moss. The Cruz camp plans to open a Nashvillearea office Wednesday.

Sen. Marco Rubio, who placed third in the Iowa caucuses, may also open a Nashville-area office, supporters said.