Clinton Wins Battle of Headquarters High-Tech

The campaign headquarters of Bill Clinton and Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. offer a study in contrasts. Here are some facts and impressions gathered from visits to the Manhattan offices of the two Democrats who face off in today’s Democratic presidential primary.

Clinton HQ opening: four months ago.

Brown HQ opening: two weeks ago. Before that: Volunteers made phone calls from home.

Desk computers in sight at Clinton HQ: too many to count.

Desk computers in sight at Brown HQ: zero. Why: “We had a PC, but it looks like it’s been replaced by a typewriter,” communications director Joe Costello said.

Large-screen televisions in sight at Clinton HQ: three.

Televisions of any size in sight at Brown HQ: zero. How Brown campaign monitors TV coverage: volunteers do it at home.

Clinton stationery: red, white and blue letterhead with “Bill Clinton for President.”

Brown stationery: plain white paper. Why: “There is letterhead, but don’t ask me for it,” a Brown spokesman says.

What volunteers were doing at Clinton HQ that they weren’t doing at Brown HQ: stuffing envelopes.

What volunteers were doing at Brown HQ that they weren’t doing at Clinton HQ: holding mini-pep rally in which volunteers gather in huddle, touch hands, bend down and shout “Whoa!” before running off to campaign.

Number of phone lines at Clinton HQ: about 35.

Number of phone lines at Brown HQ: about 10.

Amount Clinton had raised through March: $9.3 million.

Amount Brown had raised through March: $2.33 million.

Declared Clinton campaign debt: $900,000.

Declared Brown campaign debt: $0.

Amount Clinton raised in one night in February at a Manhattan fund-raiser: $725,000.

Amount Brown raises daily through 1-800 phone number: $80,000.

Where Clinton stays in New York: The Sheraton.

Where Brown stays in New York: home of writer Joan Didion.