Oregon GOP Candidate Endorses Obama

The Republican Party is famous for keeping members loyal. But in Oregon, at least, that no longer seems to be the case. First Oregon GOP Sen. Gordon Smith promoted his ties to Barack Obama in ads. Now a Republican candidate for the House is endorsing the Democratic candidate. The Politico reports:

A guy gets 70% of the Republican primary vote, and how does he repay his party? By endorsing Barack Obama for president and the Democratic challenger to an incumbent Republican for Senate. At least that's how Joel Haugen, challenging Oregon Rep. David Wu, decided to thank his party's leadership for their support.

Haugen, a businessman and Army veteran, is running an uphill campaign in a district Wu has held onto against good Republican challengers. So instead of embracing fellow Republicans in a state that's moving increasingly left, Haugen is falling in line with Obama, and he's is listed on State House Speaker Jeff Merkley's website as a backer; Merkley is the Democratic nominee against Senator Gordon Smith.

The endorsements aren't something Haugen is hiding. "We certainly understand why people are so surprised to see" Haugen backing Obama, the campaign writes on its website, citing the Democrat's positions on foreign policy and the economy over John McCain's.

But Haugen's is a position that causes the Oregon Republican Party some heartburn. The state party is continuing to offer tacit support for Haugen's candidacy (though they're not returning his phone calls) while local party officials have shut him out of some events, PolitickerOR reported over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the GOP's 2006 Senate candidate in Delaware says he's been booted out of his party position for supporting Obama.

Comments

[Bluejay00234]

Aww they are shutting him out? And here I thought Dems only eat their young. lol

[honeydiva]

ha rethugicans flambes them and then feeds them to the dogs.

[EarthToZoey]

Ahh, another reason I love Oregon.

[RaraAvis17]

Me too! I left Arizona 10 years ago for paradise in Oregon and never looked back.

[blasphemera]

I was born here more than 30 years ago, and I have never been able to bring myself to leave.

[JJeff88]

Wow! It's about time the political forces of nature began to even out the defection thingy.

Since Reagan, it's seemed as though more Dems haved moved toward the GOP than vice versa.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Plzzzzzzzz,,,,He's just trying to get elected in a state that's moving to the light, which just so happens to be left. He's still an R

[raye1]

Oregon has always been a Democratic state! I can't remember the last time we went Republican in the GE. I think it was back in the 40's or 50's. I am 40yrs old and I know that since I have been around we have'nt gone Repug!

I was just reading an article that stated that the Oregon Repug Party is having issues with defecting Repugs and they are finding it hard to replenish their numbers.

[blasphemera]

When did you move here from California?

[blasphemera]

Do you remember Reagan winning Oregon in 1988?
I sure do! I was 11 when Reagan won, and it was devastating to my newly forming whig ideals. Unless you moved here after the 80s? I worked in the State Capitol as an assistant legislative aide in the 90s, lotsa republicans!
Oregon has always been a very complicated political state. It is historically characterized as being liberal at the state level, but conservative on the national level, and that's from the horse's mouth, Mr. Paul Herbst (best government/civics teacher ever). You can follow the red and blue in the state by a) population, or b) education. There are pockets of ultra leftwingers, (Eugene) and pockets of ultraconservatives (all of eastern Oregon), and everything in between.

[blasphemera]

I agree. This is a clearcut case of the wolf in sheep's clothing. Same with Smith, though I don't "hate" Smith, I'd much rather Rep. Defazio or Tony Corcoran run for that seat -(I know for a fact that Defazio won't).
Nice to see humble little Oregon discussed -
Oregon is hard to call, though -
Portland, Eugene = fairly liberal
Salem, Medford, most of the coast = fairly conservative
Eastern and Central Oregon = very conservative

It will be interesting to see how the state negotiates the presidential election. There are pockets of very racist people here. Don't forget, it was just back in the nineties that neo-nazi Metzger was prosecuted for hate crimes.
It is wise to take "left Oregon" with a grain of salt because of that.

[leftoflennon]

LOL!

Sooo good!

[ohiodem250]

Maybe this guy is doing the right thing but I don't really understand it. Either way this guy is going to lose.

[dadw5boys]

GOP told those in offive to use what every means neccessary to get re-elected.

He found one.

[bosshogg]

he just trying save his a$$.......­..........­..........­........

[nellie]

Either he really cares about his country. Or he knows which way the wind is blowing.

[RobertaInCT]

The way the wind is blowing...­....can't wait to see how JMcC is going to take this......­..........­.....

[dayala]

Gotta LOVE IT!

GOP is falling apart!!!!

[MaryanneAZ]

I'd say he's backing the winning team. I don't know any reasonable person who would do otherwise. The McCain covered wagon is going to have great difficulty getting fellow republicans to hitch their wagon to that outdated train. The O-Freight Train, on the other hand, is moving so fast and well that it's the best ticket in town. I'm in. Obama '08

[teron678]

What's with this Oregon GOPs ....... LMAO

[Pquilson]

Who knew? Oregon has Republicans?

[Toonadude]

Take a trip through eastern Oregon and try to find a Democrat.

[planmeister]

So much for the "run against the GOP!" encouragement from the RNC just other day, eh? Pretty short half-life for a half-baked idea.

Obama '08

[flymic]

Lets be very clear: a vote for an 'R' is a Vote against Americas best ideals.

[brendanm]

I've voted for a Republican for Township Trustee before...

[TommyMcCarthy]

Well!.....­I'ts off to the re-education camp with YOU then "brendanm"­.....
tm