With the national spotlight ready to turn to Pennsylvania in the coming week, advocates for presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama spent this weekend trying to build support.

Yesterday morning, the Obama campaign kicked off its first official canvass from its East Liberty office at 208 N. Highland Ave., which it plans to formally open this week. About 400 people showed up to volunteer to try to register new Democratic voters and to get registered independents to switch for the primary.

The Obama campaign also launched canvassing efforts in Beaver and Washington counties.

Sally Katzen, who worked in the Clinton administration for eight years, met with small groups for "A Conversation about Hillary" in homes in Shadyside and South Fayette yesterday. She also was to meet with the Carnegie Mellon University College Democrats last night and with another small group in Squirrel Hill today.

Among those canvassing for Mr. Obama was Ashley Hodges, 22, of Shadyside.

"I am out here because Obama was a community organization committed to people and a politician second," she said.

She said she voted in the last presidential election but wasn't involved. Mr. Obama, she said, "is inspiring to people of my generation."

Arthur Grimes, 63, of Stanton Heights, who also was at the East Liberty campaign office, said Mr. Obama is inspirational to him as well.

He said the change Mr. Obama seeks is "going to benefit everyone."

At the Clinton information gathering at the Shadyside residence of Will Steger and Sheila Kaufman, about a dozen people heard Ms. Katzen say she thinks both candidates will bring change but that Mrs. Clinton has experience critical for the job.

"After seven years of the current administration, we are in a hole that is unbelievable," said Ms. Katzen, who was administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget, deputy assistant to the president for economic policy and deputy director for management in OMB.

Ms. Katzen, a graduate of Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, said this is no time for on-the-job training of a president.

She described Mrs. Clinton as someone who does her homework and works so well with people that her White House staff never had a problem with turnover.

Among those at the gathering was Sandra Robinson, of Highland Park, who will be voting in her first election as an American citizen.

Ms. Robinson, who is from England, is for Mrs. Clinton. "I like all of her plans," she said.