It's quiet outside this morning. Liz and the kids are still asleep. Even Hugo and Hazel refused to bark at the squirrels when they were let out a bit ago. Rain is failing. A few birds are chirping. But it won't remain quiet for long. Today is the Oregon primary. We vote by mail here, of course, but there will be long lines nonetheless at ballot-drop off sites across Oregon where people who waited for one reason or another to vote can still make sure their voice is heard. Media - both local and nation - will be hunting down filler stories all day as we await for results to come in at 8 pm.

This is the first time that Oregon's presidential primary has counted for much since 1968. All the polls show Senator Barack Obama walking away with the state. That's good news for people like me who want a president with sound judgement - a president who will not compromise their values during a political wind storm. The race for the democratic nomination for U.S. Senate is a close one. In this house we're all hoping for a Steve Novick win. Steve is a principled fighter who can win in November. His campaign for the nomination has stayed focused on issues (even as his nationally funded opponent went negative).

As the day wears on it will be all-Oregon-all-the-time on the national cable programs. Volunteers will be hustling around the state trying to get last minute ballots turned in. Later tonight, the hardcore supporters of all the various candidates will gather to watch returns, cheer victories and mourn defeats. We're hoping to drag the kids down to the Benson Hotel where we plan to cheer our friends on. All of this, of course, is simple a dress rehearsal for November.

A day that has started quietly in Oregon promises to end with a bang. The voters will finally get a chance to be heard. Campaign workers will finally get a chance to learn the fate of their candidate. One way or another, Oregon will make a difference tonight and the nation should be grateful. There is perhaps no state with a more informed and engaged citizenry than Oregon. We've taken our roll in the process seriously. I suspect that votes will reflect what has always been true about our state: people here care about the future, are progressive in spirit, and patriots to the core.

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