Pelosi rallies Schrader, Obama supporters in PDX

PORTLAND -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a rare visit to Oregon on Friday, swinging through the state to shore up support for congressional candidate Kurt Schrader and Barack Obama.

Pelosi made an afternoon speech billed as a “Women for Obama” event, and the House Speaker focused on issues including children’s health care, equal pay and a woman’s right to choose.

“Women are going to make all the difference in the world this election,” Pelosi said. “They will turn out for Barack Obama.”

Earlier in the day, Pelosi attended a rally and a fundraiser in southwest Portland on behalf of Schrader, who is looking to take the OR-5 congressional seat over from Darlene Hooley (D-West Linn).

Pelosi appeared confident in his prospects, as well as those for U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland).

“Oregonians are going to send Kurt Schrader to congress as part of a great Democratic delegation,” Pelosi said. “And, of course, you are going to elect Jeff Merkley. We will be a stronger Democratic majority serving with a great Democratic president.”

She also addressed the need of Democrats to get 60 votes in the Senate. If they fall short, Pelosi worried that the Democrats’ agenda would be endangered.

“Without 60 votes, a minority will be able to continue to block initiatives,” Pelosi said, cautioning that it would be much harder for Obama to change the path of the country without the sixty votes. “The path needs to be cleared for him to say, ‘This is my vision,’ and he knows he will not be obstructed by the minority.”