Ed Rendell

The rumors of who will be the future secretary of transportation in an Obama administration have centered on U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland), but some in the transportation world have been floating the name of a second Oregon congressman as well.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield), a senior Democrat on the House Transportation committee was mentioned in a report by Traffic World Online as a potential Obama appointee.

A recent poll showed U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) with a 10-point lead over U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president in Oregon, but Jack Roberts, a Republican former labor commissioner, argues that what the poll really proves is that Obama needs help from his running mate to win.

Last week a SurveyUSA poll asked Oregonians: “If there were an election for President of the United States today, would you vote for Republican John McCain? Or Democrat Barack Obama?”

Forty-nine percent of respondents chose Obama, 39 percent chose McCain and 12 percent said they were undecided.

When the poll began adding potential vice-presidential candidates to the ticket, Obama’s lead fluctuated depending on the name-recognition of the ticket.