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83 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 1, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 7, 2004 Bush supporters gather at the Straus farm in Central Point Tuesday to hear U.S. Rep. Greg Walden announce members selected for the Oregon Farm and Ranch Leadership Team for the Bush-Cheney campaign. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli GOP rallies for Bush GOP says Jackson County has strategic importance in the November presidential election By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Supporters of President George Bush rallied in Jackson County Tuesday, hoping this area plays a key role in winning over a state that eluded them in 2000. "We expect a very close race in Oregon," said Tracey Schmitt, spokesperson for the Bush-Ceney campaign in Virginia. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, former Rep. Bob Smith and about 50 other Republicans gathered at the Straus farm in Central Point to announce the selection of members of the Oregon Farm and Ranch Leadership Team for the campaign. Dalton and Ruth Straus, fourth-generation farmers, are members of the team, as well as Smith and 10 other industry leaders throughout the state. Schmitt said Jackson County was chosen for the announcement because of its strategic importance in winning the November election through a grassroots effort. Advertisement In 2000, Bush got 54 percent of the county’s vote to Al Gore’s 39 percent but was 6,000 votes shy of winning the state. "We lost this state by about four votes per precinct," said Walden. "We can’t let that happen again." Steve Gilmore, Jackson County campaign manager for Bush, said, "We need a good solid voter turnout here to counteract the metro Portland area." But Democrats don’t think the county will necessarily be a shoe-in for Bush. "A lot of people think this administration has been particularly deceitful," said Bill Layton, chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee. He cited the growing concern about the reasons the president gave for going to war against Iraq, as well as continuing problems with the economy and the No Child Left Behind Act. "There is plenty of evidence now that there were no weapons of mass destruction, and the administration knew there was none," he said. "He (Saddam) was not a threat, or imminent threat as they were saying, to the U.S. There were no ties to al-Qaida." Layton said Democrats are better positioned now than in 2000 to organize against the Republicans. "It’s going to be a tough fight," he said. Democrats from the Mount Shasta area plan to come to Jackson County to help campaign for Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts because they expect California to vote Democratic, said Layton. Also, Klamath and Josephine counties have better Democratic organizations than they did during the last election, he said. Layton agreed with Republicans that there would be a fight over Southern Oregon. "This is one area they do need to concentrate on," he said. Republicans agreed that the Iraq war and the economy will play large roles in the election. Walden supported the war. "We have freed that country from one of the most brutal dictators the world has ever seen," he said. Paulette Pyle, who chairs the Farm and Ranch Leadership Team, told the Republicans gathered Tuesday, "I never dreamed that anyone would pay as much attention to rural Oregon as President Bush has." Republicans and Democrats are planning to go door-to-door to get their candidates elected. Republicans held a training rally in Roseburg last year, and plan to hold one in Jackson County April 30. "We are focusing on getting volunteers — on getting our army," said Gilmore, who is also Walden’s office manager. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times