If Obama Wins in Oregon, Clinton Vows to Still Fight On

The latest numbers from state elections officials -- 42 percent of the state's 2,027,564 registered voters have cast a ballot as of Monday.

Sen. Hillary Clinton will score a huge win in Kentucky tonight, but most expect that the former First Lady will loose the vote in Oregon to her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, but she is telling supporters that she will continue her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination all the way to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Denver.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Sen. Hillary Clinton will score a huge win in Kentucky tonight, but most expect that the former First Lady will loose the vote in Oregon to her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, but she is telling supporters that she will continue her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination all the way to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Denver.

Polls have the former First Lady down double-digits in the Beaver State, and winning in the Bluegrass State by as many as 30 points. However, state elections officials are expecting a record turnout in Oregon's unique vote-by-mail system.

Kentucky Votes 2008:

With 36 percent of the precincts reporting in the Bluegrass State, Clinton has a big lead, and it looks too big for Obama to mount any sort of late rally. She currently leads Obama 55 percent to 41 percent. So far Clinton has 22 of Kentucky's pledged delegates to 11 for Obama.

Tension Rises After Obama Says He May Declare Victory in Iown on Tuesday:

Obama told reporters after the Portland rally when asked if he was going to declare victory on Tuesday after the Oregon vote: “We think we will have a majority of pledged delegates at that point and that’s a pretty significant mark.” On Saturday night during a campaign fundraiser in Portland, Obama said, "In order for Democrats to win in November it will require a unified party, and that means all of you have to be nice to Clinton supporters."

The Clinton Campaign fired back saying: Senator Obama’s plan to declare himself the Democratic nominee Tuesday night in Iowa is a slap in the face to the millions of voters in the remaining primary states and to Senator Clinton’s 17 million supporters. They say there is no scenario under the rules of the Democratic National Committee by which Senator Obama will be able to claim the nomination tomorrow night. He will not have 2210 delegates, the number needed with Florida and Michigan included in the process, nor will he have 2025 delegates, the number needed to secure the nomination without Florida and Michigan. "Premature victory laps and false declarations of victory are unwarranted. Declaring mission accomplished does not make it so," said Clinton's campaign.

Obama Winning the Oregon Money Race:

Obama has raised more money in Oregon. He has raised an estimated 1.7 million compared to $422,000 for Clinton. Sen. McCain comes in at just over $236,000 according to data provided by the FEC on April 20th.

Some Question Why Obama Not in Oregon for Victory Speech:

According to both campaigns, neither candidate will be in Oregon on Tuesday. Clinton is expected to be in Kentucky, which has 51 delegates at stake, while Obama is scheduled to be in Des Moines, Iowa for a rally in the state who's caucuses first established him as a viable contender for the nomination. An estimated 77,000 Obama supporters jammed Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland during a rally Sunday afternoon, the largest turnout so far. So why, not be in Oregon for tonight's speech, a phone call and e-mail by Salem-News.com to the Obama Campaign Press Office was not returned.

2,026 delegates Are Needed to Get the Democratic Nomination:

Barack Obama has 1,929; Clinton has 1,741. That means Obama needs only 97 more delegates in the next five contests (Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Montana) to become the nominee. There are 260-plus superdelegates who are yet to be claimed and are not bound by the outcome of any state's vote. Oregon has 52 delegates at stake, but it is not a winner-take-all.

Florida and Michigan Still Up For Debate:

Clinton is also trying to make a case that if the results of disputed primaries in Michigan and Florida are included, she would lead Obama in the overall popular vote.

Obama vs McCain for President Polls:

According to Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll, Obama and McCain are running neck-and-neck. In Monday's poll, McCain was just ahead of Obama -- 45 percent to 44 percent.

Oregon Votes 2008:

The latest numbers from state elections officials show that 42 percent of the state's 2,027,564 registered voters have cast a ballot as of Monday. In the mid-Willamette Valley - Marion County is at 44 percent; Polk County is at 44 percent; Linn County is at 39 percent; and Benton County is at 42 percent.