Oregon win puts Obama in driver’s seat

Big victory gives Democrat majority of pledged delegates

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, May 20, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (23 Reader comments)

Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama was in Iowa tonight but his heart was in Oregon, where he won big in the primary election over rival Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Early returns gave Obama about 63 percent of the statewide vote, to Clinton’s 37 percent. The numbers will be updated during the night and Obama’s lead could shrink a bit. But recent polls put him far ahead of Clinton in the state.

The win in Oregon gives Obama bragging rights to a majority of pledged delegates in his quest for the Democratic nomination. If Democratic “superdelegates” continue to come out for Obama or switch their allegiance from Clinton, Obama could effectively wrap up the nomination in the next two weeks.

“We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people and you have put us within reach of the nomination for president of the United States,” Obama told supporters Tuesday night in Des Moines.

Also Tuesday, Clinton easily beat Obama in Kentucky’s primary, taking about 60 percent of that state’s vote.

But Obama’s Oregon win denied Clinton a potential upset that might have given her renewed hopes in the campaign. Instead, Oregon provided Obama with another win in a state dominated by white voters.

Obama and Clinton made several campaign swings through the Portland area and other parts of Oregon. Clinton also benefited from tireless campaigning here by former President Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea.

While Hillary Clinton drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than 3,000 to an appearance in Hillsboro, Obama packed Memorial Coliseum in an early visit, then attracted a throng of 75,000 to Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Sunday. That is believed to be the largest political gathering ever here, and it was more than double the largest previous crowd in Obama’s presidential campaign, when he drew 35,000 in Philadelphia.

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