Oregon's Presidential Politics: A Battleground State?

Oregon has been considered one of this year's battleground states, and the Democratic primary is a closely watched contest. John Kerry's win in the primary, with Dennis Kucinich and Lyndon LaRouche on the ballot, gives insight into the state's presidential politics. Robert Eisinger, chair of the political science department at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, provides context on how Oregon's presidential politics may shape up.

Key Takeaways:

• Oregon's 2000 presidential election was a close contest, with Al Gore winning by a few thousand votes, and Ralph Nader being a significant factor.
• In 2004, Ralph Nader's candidacy may still be a factor, but it's uncertain due to his past failure to gather enough signatures to get on the ballot.
• Oregon's economy has been sluggish, leading to widespread concern about the need for economic improvement.
• The state has a long tradition of anti-war activism, which will likely play a role in the presidential race, particularly in relation to the war in Iraq.
• Presidential candidates will focus on Oregon's big metropolitan areas, such as Portland, Eugene, and Salem, to secure electoral votes.

Statistics:

• Oregon's 2000 presidential election was decided by a margin of fewer than 10,000 votes.
• Ralph Nader failed to gather enough signatures to get on the ballot in Oregon in 2004.
• Approximately 42 percent of Oregon voters supported Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
• The state's economy has been described as "sluggish" by political scientists and journalists.
• The Portland-to-Eugene axis in Oregon is predominantly liberal, while eastern Oregon and southern Oregon are more conservative.

Sources:

• NPR News, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, February 18 (no specific year mentioned), featuring a conversation with Robert Eisinger, chair of the political science department at Lewis and Clark College in Portland.