A Kitzhaber Comeback...or a GOP Fast Break?While most of the national attention today will be focused on Specter and Sestak in Pennsylvania, Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas and whether a straight up Tea Party candidate can get a Senate nomination in Kentucky, one of the more intriguing races could be forming in Oregon.John Kitzhaber, a two-term former Governor, seems sure to win Oregon's Democratic primary today, while Republican newcomer and former NBA player Chris Dudley - all 7 feet 1 inch of him - could win the GOP nod. It is a race worth watching. Both men held leads in some of the recent public polling.I've written here in the past about the difficulty of pulling off a political comeback, which may be Kitzhaber's biggest challenge in a blue state that he once called "ungovernable." The last Oregon comeback attempt - Tom McCall's in 1978 - fell flat. At the same time, first-time candidates who try to launch political careers from the top - above the rim in Dudley's case? - often stumble.MSNBC has a good take on the race this morning, noting that in a recent robo-call poll Dudley came out ahead of the two other GOP contenders at just "shy of his career 46% free throw shooting percentage."No word on Kitzhaber's career shooting percentage.
For more than 30 years, Marc Johnson has reported on and helped shape public policy in Idaho and the Northwest. He counsels clients on strategic communications and issues management at Gallatin Public Affairs where he serves as the managing partner of the firm's Boise, Idaho office.
A student of political history, Marc writes and speaks regularly on topics ranging Lincoln's re-election in 1864 to Idaho's famous U.S. Senator William E. Borah.
Marc was an award winning broadcast journalist and served as press secretary and chief of staff to Idaho's longest serving governor - Cecil D. Andrus
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A Kitzhaber Comeback...or a GOP Fast Break?
While most of the national attention today will be focused on Specter and Sestak in Pennsylvania, Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas and whether a straight up Tea Party candidate can get a Senate nomination in Kentucky, one of the more intriguing races could be forming in Oregon.
John Kitzhaber, a two-term former Governor, seems sure to win Oregon's Democratic primary today, while Republican newcomer and former NBA player Chris Dudley - all 7 feet 1 inch of him - could win the GOP nod. It is a race worth watching. Both men held leads in some of the recent public polling.
I've written here in the past about the difficulty of pulling off a political comeback, which may be Kitzhaber's biggest challenge in a blue state that he once called "ungovernable." The last Oregon comeback attempt - Tom McCall's in 1978 - fell flat. At the same time, first-time candidates who try to launch political careers from the top - above the rim in Dudley's case? - often stumble.
MSNBC has a good take on the race this morning, noting that in a recent robo-call poll Dudley came out ahead of the two other GOP contenders at just "shy of his career 46% free throw shooting percentage."
No word on Kitzhaber's career shooting percentage.
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