Clinton renews call for Oregon debate with Obama
Both democratic presidential candidates are in the state this weekend
By JEFF BARNARD
Associated Press
Friday, May 9, 2008 12:32 PM PDT
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| Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., greets a crowd of supporters as she enters a rally in Central Point, Thursday. |
CENTRAL POINT — Hoarse from a cross-country campaign trip through three states, Sen. Hillary Clinton told die-hard supporters in southern Oregon on Thursday night she would keep running for president, and pressed her opponent to debate on Oregon issues.
Sen. Barack Obama was to campaign through Oregon on Friday and Saturday, and Clinton said it would be a great time to debate while Oregonians consider how to cast mail ballots that are already hanging on refrigerators in households across the state. The ballots will be counted May 20.
Clinton was slated to speak Friday about health care at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.
‘‘Those of you who have already made up your mind to support me, send it in,’’ Clinton told a cheering crowd of about 1,200, in a pavilion of the Jackson County fairgrounds. ‘‘If you think you’ve made up your mind to support my opponent, wait awhile. Keep thinking. Keep waiting for that debate.’’
Clinton, who was introduced by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, repeated portions of her Oregon Compact, saying she favored restoring federal payments to timber-dependent counties, and criticized Obama for voting for an energy bill that took away states’ authority over siting liquefied natural gas terminals.
She also called for thinning forests to provide jobs and reduce the danger of wildfire.
Obama has not risen to the debate bait, saying they have had ample opportunity to discuss issues in repeated televised confrontations.
After a narrow Clinton win in Indiana and a strong Obama win in North Carolina, Clinton’s chances of winning enough delegates to claim the nomination were dwindling, putting newfound importance on the 52 pledged delegates to be apportioned by Oregon voters.
Apologizing for being late after campaign stops in West Virginia and South Dakota, Clinton made light of the long odds against her.
‘‘I apologize. We were kind of flying against the wind,’’ she said.
