Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has opened up its volunteer headquarters in downtown Chicago. A campaign official says it will operate 24 hours a day. Chicago Public Radio’s Gabriel Spitzer has the story.

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DURBIN: This is a good headquarters! This is a good place to elect the president of the United States, isn’t it?

That’s Illinois’s senior U-S senator, Dick Durbin.

He dropped in to pump up a crowd of students, staffers and other supporters at the new volunteer center.

The candidate’s wife Michelle Obama attended to cut the ribbon. She predicted that the headquarters would be soon be humming with volunteers from Chicago and all over the country.

OBAMA: People really want to come and lay their hands on the process. So the goal is that people can come, they can get training, they can use this as ground zero.

Mrs. Obama and Senator Durbin emphasized the importance of a strong showing in Iowa. They exhorted volunteers to head to that early caucus state to help drum up votes.

Obama’s national campaign headquarters is also located in downtown Chicago.

I’m Gabriel Spitzer, Chicago Public Radio.