For the first time since Emma Osong moved to Maryland 27 years ago, the native of Cameroon will cast a vote in an American election.

That moment, which should take place sometime this morning, is good in and of itself, Osong says, but she anticipates that the real joy will come from making her mark for the person she is supporting - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Clinton's focus on universal health care and her experience in foreign policy is why Osong is backing the former first lady, and the primary reason why the 45-year-old mother of three has been volunteering for Clinton up to four hours a day since November, calling voters from the campaign's Baltimore office.

Osong said she had been interested in elections previously but was never active politically, eschewing campaigning for others and voting. She said she found the chance to shape history by helping to elect the first female president too tempting to pass up.

Leaving her kids in the hands of her husband at their home in Clarksville, Osong reports daily to Clinton's Baltimore headquarters, in the union hall of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on Bush Street. There, she espouses the virtues of Clinton to voters across the state.

"When an ordinary person like myself, not a political activist, but someone who truly believes in what she's doing, believes in Hillary Clinton's campaign, it resonates with a lot of people that way," Osong said of her conversations with potential voters.

While Osong would like to see a woman become president, she says that hot-button topics such as race and gender were not primary in her decision to support Clinton over Sen. Barack Obama. She said she can identify with and appreciate Obama's background and African heritage, but believes Clinton's experience in foreign policy dwarfs the Illinois senator's.

Osong was one of 11 children born to a family in Cameroon, in Central Africa. Her father died when she was 8, leaving her mother and older sisters to raise the family in what she describes as humble settings.

After graduating from high school, Osong came to the United States to go to Howard University. She eventually graduated from the University of the District of Columbia. She became an American citizen and married about 20 years ago.

Osong went on to get two other college degrees and works as a professor of leadership and management at Argosy University's Washington-area campus. She also owns a small information-technology business and volunteers as a teacher of religious education in middle schools.

Any free time is devoted to the campaign. She has made hundreds of calls for Clinton, and will talk up to 40 minutes to potential voters if the conversation turns into a debate.

"She's exactly the kind of volunteer that makes the campaign work," said Joshua Friedman, an organizer for Clinton's campaign in Baltimore. "She's got passion, drive, what we need to take us to the White House."

Osong says she's been bitten by the political bug. If Clinton loses the primary or general election, Osong says she expects to find a new candidate's platform to champion.

She doesn't regret not voting before but can't envision herself not voting in the future, especially if Clinton takes office.

"I truly believe I'm doing the right thing," Osong said. "And I'm confident Marylanders will be casting their votes for the same reason I'm casting my vote."

brent.jones@baltsun.com