Obama Plans Trip to Pendleton

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Story Published: May 15, 2008 at 7:05 PM PDT

By Rudabeh Shahbazi

PENDLETON-- Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Pendleton Sunday, just one week after Bill Clinton was here stumping for Hillary.

Last fall, most people wouldn't have expected Oregon to be a crucial state on the run for the presidency. In fact, city officials don't remember the last time they were so significant to the democratic process.

Like millions of people across the country, Chelse Bermel is voting for the first time, and she's voting for Obama.

"The Obama waive seems to be going through our high school," she said. "There's a lot of young people voting for him."

Obama campaigners say their Pendleton office is the first presidential primary office here since Robert Kennedy's in 1968.

"We have more voters than we've had before, so obviously, this state has gotten the bug," said Alice Hepburn, an Obama supporter. "We've realized that we are going to have an important voice."

Not only are Obama supporters excited about his visit, they're excited about their role int eh democratic process. For the first time, Oregon matters.

"We're finally there and we're finally going to be the state that's going to make the decision," said Hepburn.

"In Oregon, the primary actually matters, so I feel like my voice matters this year," said Bermel.

The Obama and Clinton campaigns both realize every vote matters in this state, including those in traditionally Republican parts.

"You're basically voting for the lesser of all evils," said Butch Phelps, who is undecided, but was not happy about either Clinton's or Obama's visit. "And they're all evil to some extent."

Whether or not they go for Obama, at least people in small-town Oregon have found a voice.

"It's just really exciting for this part of Oregon that almost never gets on the election map," said Jenny Morgan, an Obama supporter.

Tickets for Sunday's event will be available starting at 5pm Friday at the Obama office at 27 Frazer Street in Pendleton.

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