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Democrats target female voters, Republicans work different strategy

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With just three days until the election, Democratic leaders spoke in front of a packed union hall in Independence to make one last push to win over voters.

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Congressman Emanuel Cleaver was just one leader who met with dozens of workers at the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council.

"If politicians don't address the issues that aren't on the front porch of women's concerns, they're not gonna win. It's just that simple,” said congressman Cleaver.

Focusing on women and union voters is just one way Cleaver hopes to see a bright day for Democrats Tuesday.

RELATED STORY: Top Missouri Democrats rally in KCMO during final push

"Women are going to select the President of the United States,” he said.

Cleaver also feels Missouri is at a crossroads.

"If everybody goes to vote, I think we'll be in a situation in the state of Missouri of where we'll have people in place who can veto legislation that will pattern what's been going on in Kansas,” he said. "Kansas has set the standard for what happens when you have people in office who are more ideological than they are concerned about the people."

Also in attendance to speak to union workers before they canvassed across the city Saturday afternoon was Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer.

"I came to Missouri because Missouri is in the eye of the storm,” she said.

Shuler flew in from Washington D.C. to help attempt to win over more female voters in the Kansas City area.

"Women's issues are driving the debate and that women will take those issues to the polls and really decide this election,” said Shuler.

Meanwhile at the Jackson County Republican headquarters in Blue Springs, leaders feel women will play a role as big as anyone else.

"They play that role not because they are a woman. They play that role because they believe in what we believe in,” said Mary Potter, Jackson County Republican Party leader.

Republicans had dozens of volunteers canvassing the city as well on Saturday, but Potter said their primary focus is on Tuesday.

"We have been getting our challengers and watchers that will be in the precincts on Election Day,” she said.

‘Challengers’ and ‘watchers’ are vetted volunteers who help ensure there are no mistakes or fraud at the polls on Election Day.

Potter also said they are training individuals to be greeters outside of polling locations Tuesday.

"I call it being friendly... because we're not taking literature,” she said.

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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com

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