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The Roadshow's Sideshow

AIR DATE: Friday, May 9th 2008

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How have the presidential campaigns impacted your local community?

The presidential candidates are actively courting Oregon voters and people across the state are delighted to join in the fun. One Portlander has been designing and selling his own biodegradable campaign posters. Chelsea Clinton's appearance at a local fundraiser got gossip columnists humming and helped her mom woo gay voters. Now Portland's only lesbian bar is hoping the former first daughter will grace them with her presence next week .

Pizza joints and coffee shops around the state are gearing up for the possibility of a suprise visit by John McCain, who will be in Portland on Monday, Hillary Clinton, who is in Central Point today and Portland on Friday, and Barack Obama who plans to be in the state on Friday and Saturday. Television stations are selling ads and event planners have been busy making arrangements with venues in the area. Meanwhile, local police are absorbing the costs of overtime pay for officers assigned to campaign events.

How have the presidential campaigns impacted your local community? How are you preparing for a visit from the candidates? What do you want the candidates to remember about their time in the Beaver state?

GUESTS:

• Rob Manning: Reporter for OPB News, reporting live from Hillary Clinton's roundtable discussion on health care at Oregon Health Sciences University
• John-Paull Davidson: Designer and graphic artist
• Mark O'Brien: Managing partner of American Dream Pizza in Corvallis
• Brian Wilson: Volunteer board member of Red Dress PDX
• John Clayton: Reporter for the New Hampshire Union Leader

Photo credit: tyfn / Flickr / Creative Commons

Tagged as: 2008 election · politics

This election cycle offers Oregon - all of Oregon - the opportunity to voice its issues and have a realistic opportunity for those issues not just to be heard, but acted on as well. What I want all the candidates to take away from their visit is that Oregon isn't just a state off on the distant Left Coast, but a vital and diverse part of the Union, uniquely positioned to lead the country on many emerging issues, from energy and carbon to diversity and health care.

BrianR — Thu May 8th 6:54p.m.

In all honesty, the impact I'm most concerned about would be traffic, and as long as they are not where I will be driving loads Friday and Saturday, I'm not seriously interested. True, I have already voted and even if I hadn't, I'm neither Republican nor Democrat, so their dance here is of marginal interest.

Sorry to sound so out of it, but it's a primary: by November, I seriously doubt they will remember us as more than a speed bump on their way to the general election.

tpohara — Thu May 8th 8:25p.m.

Bill Clinton came to Western Oregon a couple of weeks ago, and it was a zoo on campus. One thing I want the candidates to remember is that although we vote predominantly Democrat in this state, I don't want them to take that for granted. I guarantee if we are treated as just a 'speed bump on their way to the general election' in November like tpohara said, it could result in a John McCain victory. Also, I think it is ridiculous that Hillary Clinton is dragging this out. I may get some flack for this, but by almost every account this race is over. All Hillary is doing is hurting the party for the November election, as well as hurting her future political career.

textchampion — Fri May 9th 1:34a.m.

Textchamp: here's your flack - and it's well-deserved. Shutting off the process now just doesn't make sense. There are strong supporters of both candidates in the states that have yet to vote - including Oregon. Do you really want them to be disenfranchised? This is a nominating contest that by all rights shouldn't end until the convention itself. If there's consensus after all the votes are counted that one candidate or another is the better challenger in the general election, so be it - but why not let everyone have their say first?

BrianR — Fri May 9th 11:37a.m.

There are certainly strong supporters in states that haven't voted, I agree with that. However, by dragging out the inevitable the Democratic party is suffering as a result. I guarantee after all states have voted, Hillary Clinton will be in the same boat she is in currently, behind. If she truly loved her party, and wanted them to have the best chance possible in November, she would bow out. Every political analyst I've heard or seen, including some in Hillary's own camp, have stated that the math is impossible for her to catch up now. This is a moot point though, as she will be in it to the end as she has stated, so everyone will vote, Obama will still be in the same position he is now, ahead, when November gets here. I just think since Hillary basically did John McCain's job already, the Democrats will lose in November, and will have, at least in part, Hillary to blame.

textchampion — Fri May 9th 12:01p.m.

Why do we have primaries at all, if most people tell the candidate to get out of the race for the sake of their party? Our democracy is an embarrassment!

scottmil — Fri May 9th 12:21p.m.

If Hillary Clinton was going to run a dignified campaign, then I would say stay in it, give people an option to vote for her (much like Mike Huckabee did when it became obvious he had no chance mathematically of winning). But she is running a smear campaign against someone that is going to be representing her party in November. We have primaries for the sole goal of getting someone to represent the party in November and win the presidency. When that person has been selected or is so close to it that the primaries become pointless, the primaries become nothing more then an act of 'going through the motions.' When it became obvious that John McCain was going to be the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney dropped out to help his party and salvage his future political career, and Hillary Clinton should do the same. I know it is impossible to convince all of you Hillary fans (or any for that matter), but the writing is on the wall and you must face reality.

textchampion — Fri May 9th 4:43p.m.

+ So you are proposing that any candidate who in your view is not running a dignified campaign should get out of the race? I am not sure who holds the dignified meter, but it certainly isn't you!

+ If we follow your reasoning further you would also advocate that people stop running in marathons if they have no chance of winning? I guess you also advocate that no third party candidates run, because they have no chance. Great form of democracy. A lot of "change" in that!

scottmil — Mon May 12th 1:25p.m.

This election season has garnered an unprecedented amount of participation in the civic process around the country. In my community of NE and SE Portland, Oregonians from all walks of life are registering to vote. They are campaigning. They are investing in the political process with their precious time and financial resources. People are engaging friends, family and neighbors in the local and national issues that are important to their lives. Obama supporters are bridging political and color lines to get more and more people involved in these elections. Oregonians are being very creative on how they develop visibility for their GOTV efforts, in a state where are mail in election process is very private. Unite PDX for Obama?08, a grassroot group, is hosting a GOTV Concert at Berabti?s Pan on Thursday May 15th, called Barack the Vote! The grassroots effort in Portland is hopeful, inspiring and on the move. BARACK THE VOTE!

Guillermo A. Maciel — Fri May 9th 11:53a.m.

I am relieved to hear Nader mentioned - third party candidates get no attention in the only 2 party Democracy in the world.

I am the chair for the Chris Deveraux campaign, and I am proud to announce he is coming to Portland tonight. His first stop will most likely be the Sandy Hut - time to put to the test the old addage, "Would you like to have a beer with this guy?"

See you there!

Chad Balcom — Fri May 9th 12:26p.m.

+ I love the way this "competition" is turned into altruism by so many. As if everyone knows so much about the candidates and they were so impassioned by some difference in issues, rather then personality.

+ This participation is more about a popularity contest with no substance. It is the equivalent of sports fans and most of it is fueled by anger. No one is getting smarter or truly more engaged. Everything will return to normal once this brutish affair is over!

- Portland, Oregon

scottmil — Fri May 9th 12:33p.m.

There is a clear difference betw the candidates and it's a shame people don't make more of it: War. Obama is clearly against it, and Hillary is clearly for it. She has received millions of dollars from military companies since the primaries started - hence her hawkish pronouncements through the campaign.

HisBoyElroy — Fri May 9th 5:42p.m.

The McCain video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaP9eiWuX3s

We can't figure out if it's a joke!

David Miller — Fri May 9th 12:43p.m.

And the other two songs we played:

For Clinton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDU9xKNo-zo

For Obama (if, somehow, you've missed this...):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU

David Miller — Fri May 9th 12:46p.m.

For most of my adult life, huge landslides within the primary and general elections had definitely eroded my faith in the democratic process. I do feel like the primary season being so close is changing the way people feel they can be a meaningful part of the democratic process. (also our own mayoral race also having a "history in the making" choice) With every state being potentially the deciding factor, each locale is gearing up for the fight!

CharlaC — Fri May 9th 12:49p.m.

No Impact at all in my area - as far as most of Oregon is concerned - East of Bend is Idaho, the rest of Oregon is just a vacant space to pass through.

That said - In a highly republican area, there is a large switch to Democrat to be able to vote in the primary. I will admit I switched from Independant to Democrat, even though I am fully aware that the popular vote often does not elect our candidates or our Presidents or there wouldn't be "super" delegates. It's good to actually feel like we matter for change and not just "oh yeah, and Oregon had a primary" blip and see enthusiasm about a campaign.

Sadly, if Hillary Clinton continues to practice the Republican 'smear campaign' style, it only gives fuel to McCains campaign. It's good to see active debate - but lets get it back to real issues and not statements about race/age/income etc. Hopefully Oregon media will show the others the 'high road' this time, concentrate on the issues, and not follow like sheep to focus on putting a voter in a box based on sex/religion/lifestyle/age/income.

selehka — Sat May 10th 12:41a.m.

Comments are now closed.