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Volunteers for Clinton, Sanders hard at work ahead of Utah caucuses

Posted at 6:23 PM, Mar 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-05 23:57:10-05

SALT LAKE CITY -- Presidential candidates are cranking up the dial on their campaigns in Utah ahead of the state caucuses later this month.

There is a huge push right now from candidates on the Democratic side as they rally to sway voters for support.

Offices for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton popped up in the Beehive State in the last few days, marking the official countdown to caucus.

“What we do primarily is door-to-door canvassing, and phone calls,” explained Jordan Barbeau, Utah State Coordinator for Bernie Sanders 2016.

Rebecca Lipson, State Director for Hillary for Utah, said that’s also what they’re focused on—spreading the word as far and wide as possible across the state.

“In Moab, in Provo, down in St. George, up in Logan, in Park City,” Lipson listed off, explaining where they’ve got volunteer opportunities.

But Utah is not a liberal state, and many voters side with the right.

In fact, last week’s been quite an eventful one for Utah and the GOP, with Mitt Romney’s speech at the University of Utah, and his public battle with Donald Trump.

It’s that spotlight on the turmoil that these campaigns here say could have people changing their minds.

“I think we will be seeing more Republicans coming over rather than participating in the Republican caucus,” Barbeau said.

While this isn’t yet about red versus blue, Clinton and Sanders supporters are making their presence known in Utah, in hopes of not only a good turnout at the caucuses—but a win over the state.

“We're just trying to make sure that we’re finding out who our supporters are, and making sure that those supporters are the ones knowing where they need to be on Caucus Night,” Lipson said.

The Utah caucuses are on March 22 at 6 p.m. for Democrats and 7 p.m. for Republicans.