Sen. Barack Obama is opening 20 new campaign headquarters in the Commonwealth.

Saturday was the grand opening for the new office in the Valley. For the first time, Harrisonburg Democrats have a Presidential Campaign Office through which they can reach out to voters.

"I've been active in the Democratic Party for years and its a wonderful experience to have a national candidate open up an office here," says Harrisonburg resident Arlene Wiens.

Political analysts consider Virginia as one of the more recent battleground states. The last time Virginia voted a Democrat into the president's office was in 1964 when Lyndon Johnson was nominated.

Bridgewater College political science professor Dr. David McQuilken says many people are simply looking for change.

"You have a declining economy, you have a war that is very unpopular in the Middle East and a growing discontent with the Bush Administration and I think what Obama is trying to do is capitalize on those elements and use them to put together a viable campaign," says McQuilken.

City Democratic Committee Chairman Alan Fink says Harrisonburg is the perfect location to do just that.

He explains, "Harrisonburg has voted Democrat a couple of times, come real close other times. So Harrisonburg is somewhat of an interest to him. The county usually votes Republican. I'm sure Obama is going to do better than a lot of people expect."

Obama's headquarters is located at 124 South Main Street in downtown Harrisonburg. It will serve surrounding localities including Page, Rockingham and Augusta counties.