SPRINGFIELD ‒ Although Bernie Sanders' Democratic presidential campaign is making a big push in Massachusetts in the lead up to the state's primary, local backers of Hillary Clinton's White House bid said they remain optimistic about her chances on Election Day.

Supporters, who gathered to officially open the Clinton campaign's new Springfield organizing office Saturday morning, contended that while Sanders plans to stop in Western Massachusetts and deploy surrogates Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield across the state next week, his visibility can't match the former first lady's record and vision.

Massachusetts Democratic Party Treasurer Nicole LaChapelle said she expects the Vermont senator's Monday campaign stop at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to slightly boost his support, but questioned how his message will resonate with voters in more urban parts of Western Massachusetts.

Issues facing Amherst-area voters, she argued, are different from those in Springfield.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/springfield-area_hillary_clint.html