At Schmidt headquarters

Dan Horn reports

The Republican get-out-the-vote machine is humming along at GOP headquarters in Batavia, but don't ask how many volunteers showed up today to work the phones. GOP bosses in Columbus won't let the locals tell you.

"They're being pretty strict with us," said one nervous volunteer.

"It's strategic information," explains Aaron McLear, a GOP spokesman in Columbus.

Though he won't share details, McLear says southwest Ohio -- and Clermont County in particular -- are among the nation's leaders in making contact with likely voters. He said Ohio led the nation in voter contacts Monday with 340,000.

"All the counties in southwest Ohio are exceeding expectations," McLear said.