Wu, Blumenauer will not suspend campaigns

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may have felt the need to leave the campaign trail and head back to Washington to deal with the financial crisis, but two Oregon congressman said they didn't need to put their campaigns on hold because they have already been fulfilling their legislative duties while running for re-election.

Spokespeople for Reps. David Wu (D-Portland) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) said Wednesday it wasn't necessary to suspend their campaigning operations because the congressmen had already been dealing with the financial crisis.

“Congressman Wu has already been working hard on the issues,” Wu’s spokeswoman Julia Krahe said.

It helps that both representatives are facing minimal competition this year. Blumenauer is not facing a significant challenge in his district, which is comprised mostly of Portland.

After Oregon Republicans had several disagreements with their former nominee Joel Haugen (I-Scappoose), Wu is the only major party nominee on the ballot in OR-1.

While McCain may not have been in the nation’s capitol since the session began, Blumenauer spokesman Willie Smith pointed out that Oregon’s representatives have been in session since the end of the Republican National Convention.

“It’s a little different when you’re in congress,” Smith said. “Earl and Peter [DeFazio] and David, they’re all back there voting right now.”