U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton is following up last week's visit to Hammond by opening at least three offices throughout Northwest Indiana.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said the Democratic presidential candidate will have a presence in his city.

"Her campaign will be using my old campaign office at 7127 Indianapolis Boulevard," McDermott said. "They took my advice on that. It was a great location for me, and I'm sure it will be great for her too."

The Hoosiers for Clinton campaign reports it also will open a headquarters in Portage. The campaign Web page lists 6450 Ameriplex Drive as a place to contact the campaign.

The campaign also plans to open a headquarters in Michigan City. A secretary within the Michigan City mayor's office said the headquarters is likely to open Saturday in the 700 block of Franklin Street.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign opened a Gary headquarters Saturday at 4405 W. Fifth St. and conducted a door-to-door voter registration drive. Obama told The Times on Sunday that he plans to visit Northwest Indiana soon.

The two candidates are battling for votes in the state's May 6 Democratic presidential primary. Indiana will send 72 delegates to the Democratic national convention.

Hillary Clinton addressed a rally Friday afternoon at Hammond's Civic Center. McDermott said he hopes former President Bill Clinton also will visit the region.