In the first week that Barack Obama's campaign office has been officially open in North Dakota, workers have been spending most of their time making cold calls and trying to gauge the amount of support the Democratic party has in the state. 

 
According to the latest Rasmussen report, (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/north_dakota/election_2008_north_dakota_presidential_election), the contest is close, with John McCain having a one-percent lead over Obama in North Dakota. 

Campaign workers and volunteers such as Ethan Hoepfner, are hoping to change that. They want to see North Dakota, a state that has given its three electoral votes to a Republican candidate every election since 1964, turn Blue. 

Though Hoepfner,16, won't be able to vote in November's election, he still canvasses neighborhoods almost nightly, looking for other volunteers to join the party.

For him, campaigning for Obama is a way to do his part in the election.

"Barack Obama identifies with a lot of younger people," he said. "I hope that high school students, or college students, or anyone old enough to vote, I hope they go out to the polls and support Obama and North Dakota."

Check out a video about what it's like to campaign for Obama in North Dakota here: 

http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A10B00170099167F/