Obama campaigns in Valley

It was the picture-perfect setting for Barack Obama's first visit to the San Fernando Valley.

A fan palm waved behind him. The branches of orange, tangerine and lemon trees hung overhead. A light breeze kicked up, the first sign of the Santa Ana winds that would arrive later.Tony Castro in the Daily News.

"I wake up to this every morning," his host, Mimi Vitello, told the Democratic presidential candidate as they walked from her small home into her backyard. There the media horde, down to Inside Edition - prerequisite of all superstars - awaited them Wednesday afternoon.

"I love it," said Obama, smiling confidently and looking at ease in shirt sleeves. "You have a nice home."

Working from the ground up
ith a share of the Democratic presidential front-runner spot and a growing list of key endorsements, the Barack Obama campaign is hitting California hard for its Feb. 5 primary - throwing hundreds of staffers, thousands of volunteers. Tony Castro in the Daily News.