Despite calls for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton to drop out of the Democratic presidential primary, local supporters say they plan to keep working for Kentucky's primary, which is in 11 days.
Hillary's campaign office at 340 Democrat Drive opened for business Thursday with a visit by Chelsea Clinton. She said her mother is the most progressive candidate.
"I am so excited to be here with other people who are so passionate, just like I am, about my mom," Chelsea said.
However, former U.S. Sen. George McGovern, an early supporter of Hillary's campaign, recently called on her to drop out of the race.
Nevertheless, Hillary said she would press on because she faced similar pressure before winning in Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
Volunteers will soon start working in the Franklin County office from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. making phone calls and organizing canvassing efforts. Harold Robinson helped organize Chelsea's campaign visit Thursday afternoon and said he expects Hillary and her volunteers to campaign hard in Kentucky.
"It's too close," he said. "I think it's going to be important."
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama leads Hillary in delegates pledged to the Democratic national convention 1,587 to 1,424. Kentucky and Oregon vote on May 20 and West Virginia votes on May 13.
Kentucky has 51 delegates and Oregon and West Virginia have 52 and 28 respectively.
Some of the last primary contests are held in Puerto Rico, with 55 delegates, on June 1 and South Dakota and Montana on June 3 with 15 and 16 delegates respectively.
Whoever gets 2,025 delegates will face the presumptive Republican nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain.
A Survey USA poll shows Hillary leading Obama 62 percent to 28 percent among likely voters in Kentucky.
Obama acknowledged on Thursday that Clinton will likely win West Virginia and Kentucky. But, former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus, an Obama advisor, said on Tuesday that Obama will not concede anything.
Robinson said he was surprised by the turnout at the campaign office Thursday where approximately 100 supporters came to meet Chelsea. She arrived about an hour late and only spoke for three minutes, but spent about 20 minutes shaking hands, signing autographs and posing for photos.
Robinson said he didn't expect a long speech and that the personal contact is more important.
"The best thing would be if her mother would go door-to-door but we know that won't happen," he said.
Krista Sturgeon, 38, said she would have liked to hear her talk more but was happy to have Chelsea sign her father's pocket calendar book.
"I wasn't disappointed, I'm a big fan of Hillary," she said.
Hal Rohrer, 15, is a freshman at Franklin County High School and heard former President Bill Clinton speak at the Frankfort Convention Center in March. He said meeting his daughter and shaking hands with her was a much more intimate experience.
"It's a once in a lifetime experience," Rohrer said.
Rohrer is a member of the Franklin County High School Young Democrats but because he can't vote, he said either Hillary or Obama would be a good candidate.
Some supporters couldn't stay until Chelsea arrived and had to leave early. Robinson said it's not unusual for campaign trips to fall behind schedule and said the event was still a success.
The Associated Press Contributed to this article.