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
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Oregon Could Be The Finish Line for ObamaSalem-News.com