Oregon Primary Could Give State More Than National Spotlight

OREGON  ELECTIONS 

By Ethan Lindsey

Bend, OR  May 14, 2008 8:36 a.m.

Oregon's primary next week is one of the last in the nation. By now, you've probably heard that this year, unlike any other presidential primary in recent memory -- Oregon's vote will actually help decide a major party nominee.

And as Ethan Lindsey reports, the timing of Oregon's primary could actually bring more than just feel-good vibes to the state.

Think back to early February, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were nearly tied in the polls.  A lot of states had moved up their primaries, and "super Tuesday" became "Super Duper Tuesday" with 22 states voting at once.

What some Oregonians wanted to know was, why not us? I talked with Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury.

He said that long before May, one of the two Democrats would start dominating the polls, the other would drop out, and Oregon's vote would be -- like most years -- a formality.

He sounded so certain. So I asked him whether he'd be willing to wager on it.

He said sure and bet me a quarter that Oregon would be irrelevant. So, let's go to the tape, back in time to when Oregon didn't matter -- all the way back -- to February 2008.

Bill Bradbury: “If February 5th does not result in a clear Democrat or a clear Republican, or both. I don't believe Oregonians voters will be enfranchised. Because between February 5 and May 20, a whole lot more states representing a whole lot more delegates will be casting their votes. I just don't have much doubt that we're gonna know both nominees in March.”

And now...

Bill Bradbury: “Do you know what that is? That's money in my hand, because I owe you a quarter. And I'm gleefully paying you a quarter because guess what, the Oregon primary really matters. Yeah!”

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and incumbent Senator Gordon Smith have each locked up their nominations.

But when Oregon's Democrats fill out their ballots over the next week, they'll actually have two choices for President.

That's reshaped Oregon's politic landscape in one basic way -- there are now way more Democrats than Republicans in the state. More than 60,000 Oregon voters re-registered as Democrats this year.

Commerical TV and radio are swimming in the advertising money.

And many Oregonians say they're simply enjoying their time in the national spotlight -- as Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton traverse the state stumping for votes. And Bradbury isn't exactly crying a river either.

Bill Bradbury: “We as a state always desire to have some influence in the selection of president. And the primary is serving the function it's supposed to serve. Which is to bring issues that are important to Oregonians to the forefront of presidential candidates' minds at least for a week or two.”

Bradbury says when candidates campaign in a state, they have to listen to voter's concerns. They have to sit down and talk about what those concerns mean, and then formulate actual policies and policy positions.

Hillary Clinton released her 'Oregon Compact' a whole list of her positions on issues the state cares about.

And in his last campaign stop, Barack Obama spoke at length with OPB on a diverse range of very specific regional subjects.

Jim Moore is a professor of political science at Pacific University. He says Obama and Clinton are also meeting with and listening to Oregon politicians, trying to win their votes.

Take for instance, when Springfield Congressman Peter Defazio, a superdelegate, endorsed Obama.

Some wondered if Obama had promised Defazio he'd work with him on a prized bill.

Jim Moore: “For someone like Peter Defazio, it very well could be legislation - he's heard something from Obama that makes more sense on timber payments, on federal lands, on power, on anything.”

Moore, and just about every other political pundit in the state, agree this year is a once-in-a-generation election.

And that for Oregon's vote to matter regularly, the primary process needs to be changed permanently.

Bradbury says when you drop your ballot in the mail this week, think to yourself.

Bill Bradbury: “Oh yeah, we do want to be a part, we don't want to be ignored. It makes it more clear than ever that all the states should be a part of the presidential primary process and there are some very clear benefits.”

Bradbury says national Democrats and Republicans both have to agree to change the primary process. Oregonians will have to wait for the party conventions this summer to find out  whether that will actually happen.

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