Has Rep. Darlene Hooley from Oregon's 5th ever expressed interest in running for Senate? Would she be a viable candidate? Just looking at it on paper it seems like she would be very competitive since she represents a 50-50 district. However, if she were to run that would also likely cause some major headaches for the Dems. Defending an open seat in such an evenly split district would be expensive and risky.
Great question. Basically, Darlene Hooley lucked into her House seat (she beat a Republican incumbent who dumped his wife of 20+ years for his voluptuous chief of staff), and she's never expressed interest in higher office. On a side note, if, and when DeFazio, Wu and Hooley retire/run for higher office, OR-01, OR-04, and OR-05 will be hotly contested seats. It's pretty remarkable that of the 6 "swing" U.S House districts in Oregon and Washington, only one is held be a Republican.
As a Democratic activist here in Oregon, I was initially quite distraut about Blumenauer's decision. After much reflection and reading over past Oregon elections, I realized that Ron Wyden's win over Gordon Smith in 1996 was largely a fluke triggered by several factors that won't be there to aid Wyden's successor as Congressman of the 3rd District's attempt to beat Smith. Democrats need a candidate who can win votes in Columbia, Washington, and Marion counties. If the remaining candidates in the field, Ben Westlund, David Wu and Randall Edwards are the only ones to fit that description.
State Sen. Ben Westlund's pluses:
Known by some Oregonians as Independent
Leading voice on health care reform
Resides in the burgeoning city of Bend.
Oregonians like party switchers -- paging Wayne Morse.
State Sen. Ben Westlund's minuses:
Low name ID
Not good fundraiser
Rather eccentric (try Googling Westlund + bull semen)
Not trusted by either Democrats or Republicans
Treasurer Randall Edwards:
From Mult. Co, but can relate to rural Oregon.
Married to a rich Republican... has bipartisan cred.
Has sponsored initiatives to make college in Oregon cheaper
Won statewide twice.
Treasurer Randall Edwards:
Relatively low name ID
Arrogant, smarmy persona turns off many potential contributers/supporters.
Rather low-key had not endeared him to Democratic base.
Has eyes on '10 Governorship. This might not be a minus, just ask Bob Casey.
Rep. David Wu's pluses (disclaimer: I know him personally and have worked on all of his campaigns):
Prodigious fundraiser
Represents Oregon's Silicon Forest.
Has beaten well-funded GOP challengers in a swing district
Eloquent speaker with a humorous side (Google David Wu+ Klingons)
Vocal critic of the war, who like Obama, opposed the war from the beginning
Rep. David Wu's minuses
Poor relationship with Oregon's premier newspaper, the Oregonian.
While at Stanford, Wu smothered a girlfriend with a pillow
Has shown little interest in statewide office + loves the House.
If I were Schumer, I'd be calling Wu, Edwards, and Westlund in that order.
