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65 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, October 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2004 Melissa Perdue, a student at Rogue Community College, says she�s surprised by all the attention Jackson County is receiving from national political candidates. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell ‘All this fuss’ over us Southern Oregon is in the political spotlight as high-level candidates bring their message to the region’s voters, hoping to win in battleground Oregon By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Never in Jackson County’s history has there been so much high-level political activity during a presidential campaign as there has been this election year. "Here’s Oregon with just seven little electoral votes and all this fuss," said Medford resident Judy Scott, who is an undecided voter. "But they’re so close in this election that I can kind of understand why." With overnight visits planned this week by President George W. Bush and Sen. John Edwards, running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, this county now sits in the national political limelight. Interest in this area is high because in the 2000 election, former Vice President Al Gore won the state by a mere 6,700 votes, but lost Jackson County by 12,899 votes. According to Mail Tribune archives and the Southern Oregon Historical Society, visits by sitting presidents during a campaign are rare, and it is rarer still to have a president spend the night in Jackson County. Advertisement President Rutherford B. Hayes was the last sitting president who spent the night here. In 1880 he stayed at the former U.S. Hotel in Jacksonville, according to the historical society. Now President Bush and his wife, Laura, will spend Thursday night at an undisclosed location in Jacksonville after holding a rally at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point. Edwards also planned to spend the night here Tuesday and will hold a town hall meeting at 10:15 a.m. today. The question on the minds of many local residents is: Why is there so much interest in our county from Democrats and Republicans, particularly after campaign stops during the summer by Kerry and Vice President Dick Cheney? "I’m pretty surprised to hear they’re coming here," said Medford resident Melissa Perdue, a student at Rogue Community College who plans to vote for Kerry. "Having people in person is a lot better than just seeing them on TV." Judy Creager, owner of Medford beauty salon About Change, supports Bush, but worries about him staying the night here. "I hope he’s safe," she said. Polls in Oregon have generally shown the presidential race at a statistical dead heat, generally giving a slight edge to Kerry, making the outcome in Jackson County all the more important. "You can safely say this area holds the key to how Oregon will do," said Bryan Platt, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee. Republicans hope to increase the president’s share of voters in this area to offset the more Democratic and more populous counties in the northeastern part of the state. "If we can turn out our county’s high percentage of Republicans, Bush will win," Platt said. "The president is trying to buttress his strength, and Kerry is trying to patch a leaking ship." But Bill Layton, chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee, said, "My best guess is the Bushies thought they had Southern Oregon sowed up, and particularly Jackson County. Thanks to a lot of people getting involved, it’s not as obvious that Bush can take Jackson County this time." Layton disputed Platt’s assertion that there isn’t broad-based support for Kerry in Jackson County. Referring specifically to a Mail Tribune/KTVL News 10 poll, Layton said Bush shows only a 3 point lead in a county that is 42 percent Republican and 34 percent Democrat. 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. 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