CNN

Senator Obama said South Carolina voters just need some more time to get to know him.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – In an interview with South Carolina-based ETV Thursday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he has "the strongest grassroots organization" ever assembled in the early primary state.

"Obviously, it's still quite some ways off before the South Carolina primary," Obama said in the phone interview. "We will be campaigning down there. We've got the strongest grassroots organization that I think folks have ever seen down in South Carolina."

Obama's campaign here is promoting their organizational efforts in urban and rural communities across the state with the goal of introducing the senator from Illinois to voters who may now know him as well as Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, or former Senator John Edwards, a South Carolina native.

"People are still getting familiar with my track record," Obama said. "We are going to be spending more time down there. There will be Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire primaries before the South Carolina primary. By the time South Carolina's primary comes along, I guarantee you that people will know my track record."

"I think they will understand that we don't just talk about change, that I've stood for change for many years and I think they will be very confident in my capacity to lead this country and they will vote for me."

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby