Oregon Could Be The Finish Line for Obama

Barack Obama is expected to beat Hillary Clinton in Oregon by a double-digit margin.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton will do battle in Oregon on May 20 for the state's 52 pledged delegates. Hillary blew away Obama last night in West Virginia. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton won 67 to 26 percent. There were 28 delegates at stake -- Clinton won 20 delegates to Obama's eight. John Edwards, who left the race several months ago, got 7 percent of the vote. During her victory speech last night in Charleston, Clinton said: "I want to commend Senator Obama and his supporters. This continues to be a hard-fought race, from one end of our country to the other. And yes, we've had a few dust-ups along the way, but our commitment to bring America new leadership that will renew America’s promise means that we have always stood together on what is most important." 2,026 delegates are needed to get the Democratic nomination. Barack Obama has 1,887 to 1,717 for Clinton. That means Obama needs only 138 more delegates in the next five contests (Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Montana) to become the nominee. There are 260-plus superdelegates who are yet to be claimed and are not bound by the outcome of any state's vote. Oregon has a mail-in primary. Voters have two weeks to return their ballots, which were mailed out on May 2. Obama is expected to win in Oregon by double-digits. One poll showed him leading Clinton by 12 points. Kentucky also votes on May 20, then Puerto Rico on June 1, and in Montana and South Dakota on June 3. Did You Know??: Oregon hosted the first presidential primary debate broadcast on radio in 1948 when former Minnesota Gov. Harold Stassen battled New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey in Portland on whether to outlaw the Communist Party. Oregon has never hosted a televised Presidental Debate. Clinton had proposed two debates in the state before the May 20 election. Oregon has a long history of polarizing conflicts such as American Indians vs. British fur trappers -- British vs. U.S. settlers -- ranchers vs. farmers -- wealthy growing cities vs. established but poor rural areas -- loggers vs. environmentalists -- white supremacists vs. anti-racists -- social progressivism vs. small-government conservatism -- supporters of social spending vs. anti-tax activists -- native Oregonians vs. Californians. Oregon voters have twice upheld a law that permits terminally ill patients to take an overdose of drugs if two doctors agree with the diagnosis and conclude the patient is of sound mind. To date, more than 200 terminally ill patients in Oregon have used the law. Oregon has supported Democratic candidates in the last five elections. Most every major newspaper in the state -- including Salem-News.com -- has endorsed Obama. Only the Salem Statesman Journal has endorsed Hillary Clinton according to her website. However, Clinton did receive the support of the state's Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski. Past General Elections in Oregon: 1. 2004 Kerry (D) 51.6% - Bush (R) 47.4% 2. 2000 Gore (D) 47% - Bush (R) 46.5% 3. 1996 Clinton (D) 47.2% - Dole (R) 39.1% 4. 1992 Clinton (D) 42.5% - Bush (R) 32.5% 5. 1988 Dukakis (D) 51.3% - Bush (R)) 46.6% 6. 1984 Reagan (R) 55.9% - Mondale (D) 43.7% 7. 1980 Reagan (R) 48.3% - Carter (D) 38.7% 8. 1976 Ford (R) 47.8% - Carter (D) 47.6% Clinton Victory Speech in Charleston, West Virginia Courtesy: YouTube Video

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Miriam May 16, 2008 3:18 pm (Pacific time)

Where's the substance in Barack. Well outside of rising from a working class background to be president of the Harvard Law Review and then going back to Chicago to help working people organize to defend their rights, going to the state legislature and getting them an earned income tax credit and health care for their children, going to the US Senate and getting the leaders to post their doings where the people could see oh and opposing the Iraq war which has killed so many of our best young people, not much. Where's the substance in Hillary? Outside of being a suburban factory owner's daughter, a partner in a law firm that defends corporation, being on the board of Walmart, voting for the Iraq war while her husband took millions from some of the same people who gave money to the 9/11 criminals, not much.

Henry Clay Ruark May 15, 2008 4:18 pm (Pacific time)

To all: Bush's B.S. re Israel policies is obvious dirty-shot on further-racism impact. Biden said it right out flat in Congress, and impact of Bush-malarkey worldwide sure to win about that stamp from many --surely not the smartest move ever made in U.S. foreign policy, just as surely transcending any possible negativity for Obama. Force, fear, fateful foolishness as foreign policy further finishes off Bushie-debacle fittingly.

Henry Ruark May 15, 2008 7:12 am (Pacific time)

Crat (about to be converted to demo- ?): Yr key-phrase is: "The PEOPLE POWER of Sen Clinton's victory trounced the pro-Obama biased media." You seem not to see same dailies, weeklies, and crap-py talk-radio heard so widely in W.VA., hotly pursuing myth of racism lately. Might be your vision a bit hampered by that trainwreck you also never saw...even though it has taken eight full years to play out till NOW, as decision-point nears for sure.

Henry Ruark May 14, 2008 7:32 pm (Pacific time)

Jeffersn et al: What was the name of that new church, again ? If I seem redundant in my very grudging acceptance of too-easy conversion, that comes from several wounds still unhealed --NOT inflicted here, I hasten to add !~! But it can happen, for sure: look at the many now finally coming to light re Bush I and II. Then there's those few now fully converted from Reagan, Cheney et al-then, too...that took nearly thirty years. The coming McCain debacle may finish off that neocon nonentity group for good, but even that must remain in some question still a short time.

Jefferson May 14, 2008 6:15 pm (Pacific time)

Over the last several months I have made comments here that are, quite frankly, very stupid and not the signature of a thinking man. I am helplessly bound to be right wing because I was picked on as a child and it just always seemed to be the only option for me. I would have been a hippy in the 60's but everyone laughed me and teased me for being too close to my mother. Anyway, I don't think any man can be too close to his mother, but it was not an option for me. Because of my feelings of anxiety and to be honest, self loathing, I lash out and I fail to make sense a lot of the time, but now that I am using medical marijuana I am just starting to see the error of my ways. I know that Obama is not anything but promise and hope for this country, and now that I am a little stoned I can tone down my anxiety and turn down the Rush Limbaugh and no matter what, I am immensely happier as a person. So I owe you guys a round of thanks I think, because I fought and fought your point of view and am now beginning to understand what an idiot I have been, using names like Retired Contractor, Jefferson, and many more. Just take my old arguments and know that I was really bitter and stupid.

Henry Ruark May 14, 2008 3:36 pm (Pacific time)

To all: West Virginia is far from representing a meaningful cross section of the U.S. voter population. Offsetting event today is surely John Edwards resounding endorsement of Obama. Look for serious challenge now with GOP ranks by any remnants of real conservative faction, with revolt well under way anticipating coming consequences of neocon debacle now recognized by rational and reasonable larger American majorities.

Bill May 14, 2008 11:59 am (Pacific time)

Wow some great historical information in this story. thanks.

Marion May 14, 2008 10:35 am (Pacific time)

It was a very impressive victory. It appears she has the opprotunity to win the popular vote.

Clinton supporter May 14, 2008 10:20 am (Pacific time)

From a recent poll today if Clinton does not win the Democratic Party nomination, 29% of Democrats say she should run as an Independent for the White House. I strongly believe that during the general election she would win a plurality and we could have a leader that we must have. If she does not get the democratic nomination, then she must run. Look at her 41% victory margin last night.

Sigismond May 14, 2008 9:51 am (Pacific time)

VOTE CLINTON VOTE CIRCUMCISION! - VOTE OBAMA VOTE INTACT!

crat3 May 14, 2008 9:14 am (Pacific time)

The West Virginia resounding defeat of Obama, who is trotting around as the self-proclaimed general election candidate, was an expression of PEOPLE POWER that has brought down governments and changed goverments in other countries. The PEOPLE POWER of Sen Clinton's smashing victory has proclaimed she is the Democratic presidential nominee. The PEOPLE POWER of Sen Clinton's victory trounced the pro-Obama biased media. Superdelegates who are endorsing Obama in an end run around the Democratic nomination process to swipe the nomination for Obama should LISTEN UP and heed the supreme force of PEOPLE POWER that buttresses Sen. Clinton.

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