"Obama kicks off grass-roots campaign in Iowa

CNN:

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama hit the streets in Dubuque today in what he says is an unprecedented grass-roots focus.

Obama says this weekend kicks off the biggest grass-roots canvass this early in a presidential campaign. He says people are going door-to-door from New York to San Diego.

Obama joined about 250 volunteers knocking on doors in heavily Catholic Dubuque, part of an intense focus on grass-roots efforts in Iowa, where precinct caucuses traditionally launch the nominating season.

In all, 15-hundred backers were spending the weekend banging on doors in 38 cities across Iowa, including 150 in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids and 250 in Iowa City, all Democratic strongholds. They are areas where candidates must build campaign organizations to score well in caucuses next winter.