Clinton begins campaign swing with Medford stop

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton carried the contest for the Democratic nomination for president back to Oregon Sunday, saying his wife was the best "change-maker," who would create jobs developing clean and renewable energy and provide better care for veterans returning from the war in Iraq.

Clinton campaigned on behalf of his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, in the state where her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, had appeared just a week before. After the speech, the former president flew to Portland and will campaign there Monday, as well as in Salem and Bend.

He came to Southern Oregon and spoke for more than an hour at North Medford High School, after addressing the California state Democratic convention in a bid to sway crucial superdelegates still undecided on which candidate they will support at the national convention this summer.

"I think she's the best change-maker I ever knew," he said of his wife, noting her work as a law student to help protect victims of child abuse and as a U.S. senator to get benefits for New York police and firefighters who breathed polluted air after the 9/11 attack.

In a nod to a locally sensitive issue - the loss of federal timber payments to Oregon counties since logging was cut back to protect the northern spotted owl and salmon - Clinton said it was wrong for the government to make changes in resource management without giving people compensation.

The former president said every county in Oregon would benefit from developing small biomass energy plants that burn agriculture and logging wastes. He added that the government would do better to support development of new sources of energy, which have a high potential for job growth, rather than subsidizing oil companies.

He said Mrs. Clinton had a strong commitment to veterans, dating to her eight years as first lady, when she asked to be "the point person" on helping victims of Agent Orange, an herbicide sprayed in Vietnam, and would work to improve care for personnel returning from Iraq.

More than 2,000 people crowded but did not fill the gym to see Clinton, many drawn by the former president's star power, some looking for help in deciding how to vote in Oregon's May 20 primary, and some committed to Mrs. Clinton.

"I'm glad she's still in it," said laid off construction worker Joe O'Neill, 30, of Medford. "It shows she won't quit."

With 10 primaries to go, Sen. Clinton has only a slim chance of overcoming Obama's lead in pledged delegates, even with an upset win in Oregon. Her stepped-up her criticisms of Obama have led to worries she could hurt his chances to defeat Republican Sen. John McCain in the fall if she does not win the nomination herself.

That has led some prominent Obama supporters, such as Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to call for her to drop out, but Obama himself has said he sees no reason for her to quit.

Retired Navy engineer Bill Beer, 67, of Eugene, stood for hours in the cold for a chance to see his favorite president. He said he wants Hillary Clinton to keep running, figuring her eight years as first lady gave her unmatched experience.

"Like any sporting game, it ain't over 'til it's over," said Beer.

Beer and Janice Shenker, 57, a nurse from Grants Pass who wants to see a woman elected president, both said their faith was not shaken by Mrs. Clinton's admission that she exaggerated the dangers she faced flying into Bosnia as first lady in 1996.

"It's insignificant for me," said Mrs. Shenker, adding that she was bothered much more by the inflammatory statements about race by Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The close race has generated plenty of excitement in Oregon, which had once looked too late in the primary season to make a difference. Nearly 10,000 voters have refiled as Democrats in the last seven weeks.

At stake during the state's May 20 primary are 52 pledged delegates that will be divided in proportion to the primary vote totals. Twelve more so-called superdelegates, party leaders and officials, will go to the national convention without being formally committed. One more delegate is to be chosen at the party's state convention in June. 

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)