Len Bergstein

DENVER -- Political strategist Len Bergstein weighed in on how Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's selection of U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) will play in Oregon on Tuesday.

"He's a great stump speaker, so I think he will have the kind of intense personal politics we are used to in Oregon," Bergstein said. "He's a great Democratic policy guy, and he's a really accessible politician."

Bergstein also said that Biden's stance toward Supreme Court judges will play well in Oregon.

"He knows how to make a case with Supreme Court justices, and that's a strong base issue for Democratic and unaffiliated voters," Bergstein said. "If we're seeing Obama visiting in Oregon close to the election, something is wrong with the campaign."

After a bitter primary in the spring with sensational abortion allegations in May, there was perhaps some wishful thinking among Republican Party insiders who were hoping to pick a replacement candidate for Mike Erickson (R-Lake Oswego) as the nominee in CD-5.

A poll released Wednesday showing Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) and Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) in a virtual dead heat revealed that a large portion of Democratic voters that previously supported the Republican incumbent are now supporting the Democratic challenger.

Brad Avakian’s pursuit of the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State has endured some skepticism, particularly in recent weeks, as his campaign has failed to demonstrate a competitive fundraising operation, or, for that matter, much of an organized campaign.

Kate Brown, the presumptive frontrunner for the nomination, has raised over $150,000 so far, compared to Avakian’s anemic $2,200.  But with plenty of time until the May primary, Avakian could indeed be waiting until after the New Year to really start his engines.

In fact, word is he’s in the midst of hiring a campaign manager, and, according to sources familiar with the race, has said he intends to engage more deeply starting next month.

Sho Dozono is widely seen as the most likely candidate to jump into the Portland mayoral race and actually challenge Sam Adams, who, at this point, is facing no opposition.

But according to Len Bergstein, who is a close friend of Dozono, but has no formal or direct involvement with a potential campaign, Dozono is still seriously weighing his options, and likely won’t make a final decision until after the first of the year.

“Sho is a very family oriented guy, so I think this period between now and the holidays is probably very focused on family for him, and I would not expect a decision before New Years,” Bergstein said.

Last Spring, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) announced plans to orchestrate a series of joint fundraising events in an effort to bolster four GOP Senators who, by their calculations, are confronting the most ominous reelection prospects.

Gordon Smith made the list, along with Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Susan Collins of Maine, and John Sununu of New Hampshire.

While Coleman is arguably the most vulnerable of the four, facing a formidable challenge from Al Franken, the level of Smith's vulnerability has been in some dispute.