(In the final days of an election, there is so much information from so many races, it's difficult to stay on top of every story and understand the subtle dynamics often at play on the ground. Thankfully, we have an expansive 50-state blogosphere to match our 50-state strategy. Over the last two weeks of the campaign, we've asked leaders of the state blogospheres to provide insight into late developments and share the stories of their states in a series we're calling "Listening to the Locals." SusanG)
My name is Kari Chisholm, and I'm one of the editors at BlueOregon - the premier progressive political blog in Oregon. Here's a political tour of our fine state.
Oregon can be a political conundrum. Outside the state, we've got a reputation as a liberal haven, loaded with those latte-loving, sushi-eating, mountain-biking, Prius-driving, soccer-loving, secular hedonists that right-wingers love to hate. And at the presidential level, we've voted for the Democrat every year since 1984.
But here at home, the reality is a bit more complex. For 16 years, until 2006, the Oregon House was dominated by the nastiest right-wing Republicans around. We've got a ballot measure system that's dominated by wacko conservatives and their corporate backers. And, of course, we've got the last remaining Republican Senator on the West Coast.
We've decriminalized marijuana, but banned gay marriage. We'll let you get a doctor's help to end your life, but we won't let you pump your own gas.
Why the schizophrenic politics? Maybe it's the rain. Or maybe...
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