Clinton Campaign Sets Up Shop in Philly’s Only Republican Stronghold

Photo | Ryan Collerd

Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced that it will open three new offices in the region on Wednesday night, including one in Northeast Philly, the only Republican stronghold in Philadelphia.

At-Large Councilwoman Helen Gym and other supporters will be on hand to open the campaign office Wednesday night, according to a press release from the campaign. Why not Brian O’Neill, the Council member who represents the 10th District where the new Bustleton Avenue office will be? Well, O’Neill, who has served on Council for the last thirty years, is a Republican. And while we’re not certain he supports Donald Trump, he did decline to vote in favor of a Council resolution denouncing the Republican nominee’s “racist, sexist, xenophobic, and anti-American values.” Gym was a lead sponsor of that resolution.

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That whole section of the Northeast is not just Republican-friendly but Trump-friendly. Trump won 60 percent of the vote in the 56th Ward, where the new office will be located, in the Republican primary, according election data from the City Commissioners.

Clinton is likely to beat the pants off of Trump in the city, of course, but her campaign no doubt sees it as crucial to pick up as many votes as they can in the nearby suburbs, too. Trump will have to bring out big numbers in the parts of Pennsylvania that aren’t Philly and Pittsburgh if he hopes to win the state’s 20 electoral votes, though recent polls show things are looking better for Clinton here at the moment. Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania was getting off to a slow start as of earlier this summer, according to Politico.

Clinton has a number of other campaign offices in the city, including one on Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philly. The opening of that office was attended by Council President Darrell Clarke, who’s also the area’s district representative.

An opening event will be held Wednesday night, at 6:30, at 8568 Bustleton Ave.

Follow @jaredbrey on Twitter.