Oregon voters tonight gave Barack Obama overwhelming support. The senator from Illinois now has a majority of pledged delegates and is well on his way toward winning the democratic nomination for president. Senator Obama won Portland - where 75,000 rallied to see him this weekend - but also won rural counties across Oregon. This win shows that Senator Obama can draw support from white and black voters, urban and rural communities, and people from every other demographic group. I've been proud to support Senator Obama since early on in this process. He has the values and experience to serve in the White House. Liz and I were able to meet Senator Obama twice during Oregon's primary season. On the war, on health care, on the environment and on education - just to name a few critical issues - he offers a progressive agenda to move the nation forward. Contrast that to John McCain who is promising another Bush term.
Many of the others candidates that I endorsed have also won. Mayor-elect Sam Adams has a big job ahead of him and I wish him well. I also promise to press him and the other members of Portland's city council to seriously deal with the crisis of homelessness.
The Oregonian has called the race for the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Jeff Merkley has apparently won. Steve Novick ran an amazing race. No one thought Steve could carry it this far but he ran a positive campaign and offered detailed policy positions. Steve and his staff were just great. We went to his victory party tonight until it was time for the twins to head to bed. They made a friend and spent the evening dancing away.
Merkley and indepenent John Frohnmayer will face Gordon Smith this fall.
