This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Philadelphia • Volunteers flocked to Barack Obama last time. This time, the president's campaign is in recruiting mode.
Without a primary challenger in the 2012 race, Obama is trying to rebuild a massive organization of supporters to help boost his efforts in the face of a struggling economy and weakened political standing.
Obama's campaign is holding more than 2,000 events around the nation through the end of the weekend.
The goal is to organize the legions of activists who formed the core of Obama's coalition in 2008 black and Latino voters, women and college students and voters entering the workforce long before the election a year from new.
Such activities could help determine whether Obama can mobilize enough support to overcome broad concerns among the public over joblessness and the direction of the country, as well as the disillusionment felt by some of his 2008 supporters.