By Anna Walters
With the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for president too close to speculate, state primaries and caucuses are taking on increasing significance despite the rapidly approaching national conventions.
Usually, state primaries and caucuses have determined a front runner for both parties by this time in the campaign season, but voters on the democratic side are split fairly evenly, meaning candidates may put forth extra efforts to secure delegates.
"Democrats are having a hard time choosing between two strong, equally-funded, historical candidates," said Political Science Chair Gary Malecha before the outcome of Super Tuesday. "And the Republicans are having a hard time finding someone that appeals to all the elements of the Republican coalition."
Last Tuesday - aka Super Tuesday - marked the day that 24 states held primaries and caucuses this year. John McCain emerged as the Republican Super Tuesday victor, winning the majority of states, but McCain still needs 484 more delegates to secure the nomination, according to CNN.
Sophomore political science major Andy Taylor, who is currently studying in Washington, D.C., and interning for U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, thinks that the too-close-to-call race going into Super Tuesday lent a voice to many states normally ignored in the process.
"It's been great that such a large chunk of the population of the country is getting a say in what is normally decided by a few states like Iowa and New Hampshire," he said.
The tight nature of the race for the democratic presidential nomination means that Oregonians may see the popular politicos Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama before the state's primary on May 20.
Oregon, a state usually not targeted by campaigns and left untouched by the candidates themselves at least in terms of the primaries, has a chance to raise its issues to national attention.
"This could be a time in which Oregon has some closeness in terms of the nomination," Malecha said. "The Democratic party will probably still be unresolved as of Tuesday, so it could go on, and it's conceivable that, in terms of the race, Oregon could have some sway."
Marc Siegel, communications director for the Democratic Party of Oregon, also thinks that Oregon's primary may affect the race.
"It's very possible. The field is somewhat more scrambled in 2008 than it has been in previous years, so Oregonians may play a greater role," he said.
But some remain unconvinced of Oregon's political significance, given how late Oregon's primary falls in the season. (Four states trail Oregon, with two holding only Republican primaries/caucuses.)
Amy Langdon, executive director for The Republican Party of Oregon, thinks that Oregon's late primary casts the spotlight away from the state and its citizens' concerns.
"It's unfortunate because people in Oregon feel that they really don't get a say," she said.
Both Siegel and Langdon recognize that, although Oregon may not receive much attention from candidates before May 20, once the races are decided on both sides, presidential candidates will surely campaign in Oregon.
"Oregon is a targeted state for the presidential year. Oregon will get some visits this summer (before the conventions)," Langdon said.
"We're going to be a competitive state," Siegel said. "(The candidates) will campaign here, and they will fight for votes in Oregon."
