Cheney will visit Portland on campaign trail
A dinner to benefit congressional candidates is planned Monday, but other stops aren't yet announced
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
JEFF MAPES
While Democrats are beginning their national convention in Boston next Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney will be in Portland giving the Republican perspective.
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Cheney will be the major Republican voice out on the campaign trail next week when President Bush follows tradition by vacationing during his rival party's convention.
The Bush campaign has not given details of Cheney's West Coast campaign swing next week, but local Republicans have been receiving invitations to a Monday fund-raiser in Portland featuring the vice president.
The $1,000-perperson event at a hotel near the airport will benefit the campaigns of Republican congressional candidates Goli Ameri and Jim Zupancic, according to the invitations received by several people. Ameri is running against Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., and Zupancic is opposing Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.
In addition, Cheney's wife, Lynne, will make a separate trip to Oregon Friday to attend a $250-a-person fund-raiser for the Oregon Republican Party at a private home in West Linn, according to invitations sent out for that event.
The vice president's wife recently made news when she said the issue of gay marriage should be left to the states -- a stance that put her at odds with President Bush. It also was cited by senators who voted against a proposed federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The Cheneys have an openly gay daughter who is working on the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.
Officials from the Oregon Republican Party and for the two congressional candidates said they were not allowed to talk about any visits by the Cheneys. Typically, the White House will not release information about their travels until two days before an event.
The campaigns of Bush and Democrat John Kerry each have spent millions of dollars on advertising and grass-roots organizing in Oregon, believing it is one of fewer than 20 states that could be won by either side.
While each campaign is working hard in Oregon, principal candidates have not been frequent visitors.
Kerry has made two visits to the state this year, and Cheney visited in January for a quick fund-raiser near the Portland airport. Bush was last in Oregon in August 2003, when he appeared at a fund-raiser at the University of Portland and gave a speech in Redmond promoting his plans to thin forests to reduce the danger of wildfires.
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Except for the odious reality of supporting evil to the tune of $250, I'd almost like to see KBOO send a reporter to cover it, or some Reedies go there to disrupt it. Teach them to give common people access.