po: Westlund Out of Race

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August 11, 2006

Westlund Out of Race

Vacations are overrated. A person travels to California for a few days, and when they get back, their favorite candidate for governor is no longer a candidate for governor.

Obviously, we've all heard about Westlund's exit from the race for governor. It was picked up yesterday by BlueOregon and LoadedOrygun and the more substantive discussions will no doubt be found there.

Westlund spent plenty of money on signature-gathering. Dozens of green-shirted canvassers on the streets... that's not just persuasion. When they're paid and got clipboards, I count that towards signature-gathering costs. Seems like money was a factor... and HB 2614 simply made that process more expensive.

But then there's been a lot of speculation about Westlund's ulterior motives... suggestions that he's made a deal with Kulongoski or that he aims to springboard to another position. But here's the facts that we all know:

1. Westlund got into the race promising Oregon that he was "in it to win it" and that he would not be a spoiler.

2. Westlund exited the race, saying that he was headed for a spoiler role and had promised not to play that role.

Perhaps amidst all of the innuendo, conspiracy theories, random guesses, conjecture, and accusations... something more simple and more amazing happened: A politician kept his word.

Is it possible?

Posted by John Lowry on August 11, 2006 | Permalink

Comments

With Ben anythings possible. I wouyld walk through the gates of hell for that man.

Posted by: Barry Lince | August 13, 2006 at 07:27 PM

Based on looking over the C&E's and Westlund's lack of name recognition even with all the money spent..I think he saw the writing on the wall.

He couldn't get traction on his issues and I think he didn't want to start dumping his own money into the race. He'd burned through a lot of cash for a guy who didn't have a primary. I'm thinking his ability to fundraise wasn't what he hoped and that he wants to remain politically viable.

I don't think its as simple as "keeping his word".

Posted by: carla | August 14, 2006 at 11:35 AM

Anybody have any thoughts for 2010?

Westlund is out this year, and although Kulongoski will probably lose ground on the campaign trail (like he did in 2002 to Mannix), he's probably going to win in November.

So, who starts angling for the open seat in 2010?

On the Democrat side DeFazio took a pass in 2002 partly because of the recession. Will he be ready to come home? Also, Blumenauer is trying to make a name for himself outside of PDX -- presumably to take on Gordo in 2008, but if he doesn't succeed... State Treasurer Randall Edwards will probably be in the mix too, and maybe Susan Castillo?

For the R's, I imagine Atkinson is a lock unless Greg Walden decides to run -- in which case Atkinson runs for the Congressional seat. Assuming Saxton loses this fall (don't count him out.. voters want change), does he try again? Will Minnis run? Maybe Lars or Jeff Kropf?

And then... Ben?

Will people be more interested next time? Have the lessons of this year showed him that it's not going to work as an independent? If so, what party does he join -- or does it matter, because he's never going to pass all the litmus tests on either side?

(The calculus is much different if Saxton wins, but that seems less likely now)

Posted by: anonymous | August 14, 2006 at 11:36 PM

Westlund should've stayed in.

He wasn't spoiling it for any particular candidate --he was pulling from both.

The irony: He's spoiled it for those who thought we'd found somebody who could heal Oregon.

Look what we're left with.

It looks like steve duin feels the same way. (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf?/base/news/115534952525660.xml&coll=7)

Posted by: anon | August 14, 2006 at 11:47 PM

I said it on BO, and I'll say it here: Duin's sentiment is a lot like what I'm feeling, but I'm not going to blame Westlund for the lack of other quality candidates.

"If I happily eat three Big Macs at McDonald's and then unsuccesfully try to run the weight off on my home treadmill... I don't blame the treadmill for the state of my health. I would blame myself for eating the burgers (and to a lesser extent, McDonald's for making them so damn tasty and addicting)."

Posted by: JHL | August 15, 2006 at 09:41 AM

Ben Westlund is a good man, and I am disappointed to see him leave the race.
In terms of all the rumors and innuendo, I spoke to Anna Richter Taylor (Kulongoski's press secretary), and she denied that any deal had been made.

Posted by: Scott Jorgensen | August 15, 2006 at 09:43 AM

So do you think Westlund has a legitimate shot at statewide office as an independent, or was this year as close as he'll ever be able to get?

Posted by: anon | August 16, 2006 at 12:01 AM

I think he's got more than a legitimate shot. I'd be interested in seeing post-dropout polling, but I'll bet his name recognition skyrocketed from where he was previously... and he's got 50,000 names and addresses of people who would like to see a serious Independent bid. Maybe some campaign staffer will leak a name-recognition poll in the near future?...

Posted by: JohnLowry | August 16, 2006 at 09:32 AM

Posted by: aol | July 29, 2007 at 04:10 AM

The comments to this entry are closed.

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