Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton announced a state steering committee Thursday after opening campaign offices in Cheyenne and Casper.

Barbie Ahr, former National Democratic Committee member from Wilson, T.R. Shelby, former chairman of the Democratic Party of Jackson, and Leslie Petersen, a former county commissioner, are the three Teton County representatives on the 13-member committee. Former Wyoming Gov. Michael Sullivan also is on the panel.

Though Clinton does not have a paid staffer in Jackson Hole, Petersen is helping organize supporters in the valley. Petersen said she got to know Clinton in the 1990s, when Clinton was vacationing in the valley with her husband while he was president. Petersen said she was struck by Clinton’s “unbelievable commitment and intelligence.”

“I wouldn’t want to support her if I didn’t believe she could beat John McCain,” she said. “She can — she is tough and a fighter.”

Petersen acknowledged that the Clinton campaign “is playing catch-up” in Wyoming.

Clinton’s opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, has opened offices in Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie and Rock Springs and has a paid staffer in Jackson Hole.

According to figures provided by the campaign, about 180 valley residents have signed up as supporters of the Illinois senator’s campaign, 40 of whom have offered to volunteer their time to organize support leading up to the party’s county conventions on March 8. At stake are 18 total delegates from Wyoming.

Petersen urged Clinton supporters to contact her at 413-5004 or leslie.petersen@wyoming.com to help out.