Now it’s Oregon’s turn
For once, state’s primary may
actually carry real political weight
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 12:19 PM PDT
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| Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., addresses to her supporters as her daughter Chelsea (left), and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, watch at her Indiana Primary night rally Tuesday, in Indianapolis. |
PORTLAND (AP) — Now it’s Oregon’s turn.
With the Indiana and North Carolina primaries concluding Tuesday, presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will turn much their attention toward Oregon, allowing the state’s more than 870,000 Democrats their moment in the primary spotlight.
Oregon is one of only a handful of contests remaining, and is perhaps the most competitive of the states that have yet to vote. Clinton is predicted to prevail in Kentucky, which also votes on May 20, while Obama is expected to win upcoming caucuses in South Dakota and Montana.
Most political analysts think Obama has the edge in Oregon, but Clinton increased her visibility in the state in recent weeks, and has already announced plans to visit Thursday and Friday.
But political analyst Jim Moore said Tuesday’s election results — a big win for Obama in North Carolina and a narrow Clinton victory in Indiana — were a major setback for Clinton, and will send her ‘‘limping’’ into Oregon. Moore, a political science professor at Pacific University in Forest Grove, said he was struck by the almost somber tone of Clinton’s speech to her supporters Tuesday night.
‘‘After hearing her speech tonight, I will be surprised if she is running a full-out campaign by the time the final ballots are counted in Oregon.’’
For now, however, both candidates are advertising on television in Oregon, and have volunteers making phone calls, holding house parties and knocking on doors throughout the state.
Obama is expected to be strong in Portland, Eugene and Corvallis, but Clinton could chip away at his edge in the populous suburban counties, along the Oregon Coast and in the southern part of the state.
Nick Shapiro, a spokesman for Obama in Oregon, said the Illinois senator will make at least one more visit to the state, and details could be available as soon as Wednesday.
‘‘He will convince people to get those last ballots in; he will meet directly with Oregonians to hear their concerns,’’ Shapiro said.
Voters should expect an aggressive get-out-the-vote effort by both campaigns, since Oregon’s unique vote-by-mail system means ballots can be turned in at any point from now until May 20.
