Campaign trail blazes Oregon

Both Democratic presidential candidates campaigned a few miles from each other in the Portland-area on Friday as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton looked to garner voter support in hopes of solidifying an Oregon primary victory on May 20.

The nominees held rallies throughout the state at the end of last week. Oregon’s support has become an important part of the ongoing battle for the Democratic nomination.

Sen. Barack Obama began his visit to Oregon with an invite-only stop at Vernier Software and Technology in Beaverton and discussed education, healthcare and taxes with a small group of employees.

“Everywhere I go, I am impressed by how everyone shares faith in simple dreams like education,” Obama said.

Education was a topic of interest to Vernier employee Janeene Sallman, a mother of two, who asked, “What is your stance on No Child Left Behind?”

Obama responded, “The original purpose of No Child Left Behind was right,” but added that many of the goals of the program have been lost as instructors increasingly teach for the tests instead of fostering creativity and useful learning.

Another employee asked Obama about higher education funding as the worker wondered how he was going to pay for his tuition as a college-bound Cal Poly engineering student. Obama described a plan to expand the federal grant system, lower the interest rate of student loans, and take private banks, and what he referred to as “the middle man,” out of the lending process for student loans.

In addition, Obama outlined a plan that would provide a $4,000 credit that students could use for college after they donate time in organizations such as the AmeriCorps, Peace Corps or similar organizations.

Obama explained his approach to the healthcare crisis by detailing a plan that would bring healthcare professionals, industry leaders and the public together in a transparent process aimed at providing affordable healthcare for every American.

“Drug and health insurance companies would get a seat at the table, but they couldn’t buy every chair,” he said, alluding to the Bill Clinton-era attempt at reforming healthcare and the strong influence big business has played in past legislation.

An accountant from Vernier asked Obama how he planned to pay for the proposed programs and he responded by saying he would get United States out of Iraq, close tax loopholes and create a cap and trade system for carbon that would generate money to be used in government programs.

At the same time-on the other side of the West Hills-Clinton held a private event at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at OHSU, and spoke briefly on universal healthcare, criticizing Obama’s version for mandating coverage only for children, and not also for adults.

“An artificial distinction between children and adults is unworkable,” Clinton said. “You’ve got to have a seamless healthcare system which covers every single person. My plan does, my opponent’s doesn’t.”

She added, “This is a big difference in this campaign. It’s not a difference of politics so much as commitment … How can anyone run to be the Democratic nominee and not have a universal healthcare plan?”

Clinton’s plan is reminiscent of auto insurance mandates. Under it, all Americans would be required to purchase health insurance, which would be underwritten by employers and the government. She has said the costs of such a system could be covered by eliminating tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000 a year, and by finding savings in the current system.

Speaking to the difference between the two plans, Obama has previously said that Clinton wants to “force” everyone to purchase health insurance, while he prefers to emphasize reducing costs, so more people can afford coverage.

Former President Bill Clinton has been urging residents throughout the state to give Sen. Clinton an important victory in the state’s primary. Today is the final day of his three-day, 13-city swing through Oregon. He visited Corvallis, Eugene and three coastal cities on Monday and will be in Roseburg, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls today.

Also in the area yesterday was the presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The Arizona senator was at the Vestas Wind Technology plant in Portland to deliver a speech on combating global warming.

As the primary season comes to a close, it remains unseen which candidate will gain the Democratic nomination.

Clinton is hoping to pull off a come-from-behind victory in Oregon, while Obama’s campaign manager has said that the state could yield enough pledged delegates to give Obama a majority, essentially securing the nomination.

Obama has 1,871.5 delegates against Clinton’s 1,697, with only six states remaining in the primary. Political analysts have said that when ballots are tallied on May 20, Oregon is likely to be in Obama’s corner.

–Josh Roll, Rylan Sorenson, The Associated Press