Obama Finishes Oregon Trip With Stop In Bend

ELECTION  OBAMA  BEND  ELECTIONS 

By Ethan Lindsey

Bend, OR  May 11, 2008 8:51 a.m.

Democratic Senator Barack Obama finished his Oregon visit in Bend on Saturday, telling a packed crowd at Summit High School that he wants to hold a series of town halls with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

Oregonians who were there said Obama seemed even cheerier than usual - maybe because he gained enough support over the weekend to tie rival Senator Hillary Clinton in the superdelegate count.

Democratic Oregon Congressman Peter Defazio was among the superdelegates to endorse Obama this week.

At each and every campaign stop, Obama barely mentioned Clinton - instead attacking McCain.

Barack Obama: “The ideas of Bush and Cheney will be on the ballot because like it or not John McCain has decided to run for George Bush's third term. That's what he's all about.”

Obama's visit to Bend is the second major presidential campaign stop for the central Oregon town. President Bill Clinton spoke at Bend High School in April.

Obama is expected to return to the state again before May 20th, perhaps on Election Day itself. Reports say Obama may declare the presidential primary race over if he wins more delegates in Oregon than Hillary Clinton.

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