Bellwether Democrats Vote!
Steve Bucknum
Well, the pundits have punned, and the opinionated have opined, but on Sunday January 13 the first "real" people in Oregon voted for President. The Crook County Democratic Party held an unofficial straw poll open to all Crook County Democrats.
And why would that be important? Well, Crook County for 110 years was a bellwether County, predicting with its vote the winner as U.S. President. Only in 1992 with the election of President Clinton did Crook County lose its status as the last bellwether County in the United States. In fact, in the 126-year history of Crook County, only 1992 and 1996 were missed as being predictive votes. And … (drum beat inserted here) since the Crook County Democrats did have a majority vote for Clinton those years, well, we are the Bellwether Democrats. (Okay, I know the problem with that argument, but this is for fun, okay!)
And how did the Bellwether Democrats of Crook County vote?
Obama 50%, Edwards 38%, Clinton 6%, and Kucinich 6%
Please keep in mind that as a rural County, the above is a reflection of a voice not otherwise read on Blue Oregon.
I guess we will have to wait and see if the Crook County Democrats can truly claim their place as the Bellwether Democrats. I’ll remember this come November.
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connect with blueoregon
12:16 a.m.
Jan 15, '08
Please keep in mind that as a rural County, the above is a reflection of a voice not otherwise read on Blue Oregon.
It's only "otherwise not read" here when you don't post! More, Steve Bucknum, More!
9:00 a.m.
Jan 15, '08
Edwards wins in most straw polls thought-out the blogisphere. Crook County Democrats must be well read or just smart!
Jan 15, '08
Let's hear it for Crook (and Cook) County! May their voice be heard and be prophetic!
Jan 15, '08
Does this mean that Obama will be president and Edwards will be vice president?
1:27 p.m.
Jan 15, '08
Let's hope so, JoAnnCr. Let's hope so.
I hope to live to see the day that Oregonians' votes in the presidential primary actually count for something.
1:57 p.m.
Jan 15, '08
We did a poll at Rebooting on Saturday night (just finally got the sharpie mark off my hand), but I have yet to hear or see the results.
Jan 15, '08
"Please keep in mind that as a rural County, the above is a reflection of a voice not otherwise read on Blue Oregon."
Steve, do you mean that Crook County Democrats and other progressives do not have access to the internet?
Jan 15, '08
Tom C. writes, "Steve, do you mean that Crook County Democrats and other progressives do not have access to the internet?"
Heck no. What I mean is that I haven't seen very many rural voices at Blue Oregon lately. More and more, Blue Oregon seems focused on Portland city events, and less on the State. That bias has always been there, but I think it is off-putting to rural folks.
For example (for the Portlanders reading this), do you care even a little that Scott Cooper just announced that he will not run for County Judge again, leaving a wide open field just 2 weeks before the start of the filing period for the primary election? Do you think that McCabe or Lundquist will step up from their commissioner seats to run for Judge? Perhaps Mike Mohan will take a run at this post. Given the controversy regarding the good rating of the City Manager after the recent conflict in that position, it is unlikely that anyone on the City Council will want to run to be the County Judge. While Mayor Mike Wendell otherwise would make a great candidate, this current controversy needs to quiet down for awhile before anyone from the City would have much chance in a Countywide election. But, perhaps Gordon Gillespie, not as tarred by that brush, and very popular as both the Historical Society Director and a member of City Council, could take a run at it. He probably has some of the best name recognition. -- Do any of you even know who these people are or what the issues are that I mention? -- Put the reverse on this, and think about all the posts about Portland City Council positions.
Somedays, Blue Oregon is Blue Portland, and it is hard for those of us over in the geographic center of the State to care about that.
Having said that, thanks to Paulie for stepping up to be a rural voice. Perhaps Paulie, myself, and the other rural folks at Blue Oregon do need to bore Portland with the details of our lives.
Jan 17, '08
Thanks for your polling, Steve. It's good to see Central Oregon represented. Good idea, maybe we in Jefferson County can do the same!
Jan 17, '08