With just over 40 days until election day, Hillary Clinton's campaign opened an office in Kansas City Sunday.
More than a hundred people gathered at the grand opening in the Crossroads to sign up for volunteer opportunities, take selfies with life-sized Hillary cutouts, and connect with other supporters.
Most polls have given Republican nominee Donald Trump a big lead over the Democrat in Missouri, but some have shown the state as a toss-up.
In remarks capping off the event Sunday, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a long-time Clinton backer, urged the crowd not to underestimate Missouri's importance in the presidential race.
"We win Missouri, we win," Cleaver said.
The congressman says though the Clinton campaign hasn't factored winning Missouri into any of their scenarios, but he says people have still been too quick to dismiss the state as a battleground.
"This is not a state that is considered a red state, I think we're far more purple than the experts would like to admit," Cleaver said.
Representatives from Clinton's campaign in Kansas City say there was demand from supporters to open an office where they could convene.
Chris Costantini hopes the campaign's presence in Missouri will be a boost for other Democrats running for congressional and statewide offices, including senate candidate Jason Kander and gubernatorial candidate Chris Koster.
"I think the state is very competitive not only at the presidential level, but also at the down-ballot level," Costantini said.
Clinton's campaign has headquarters in St. Louis and smaller offices throughout Missouri.
Trump's campaign opened its Missouri headquarters in Jefferson City earlier this month.
Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter at KCUR 89.3. Connect with her on Twitter @larodrig.
