OR-GOV: DeFazio to decide by ... March.

[ccharles000]

The O's David Sarasohn pinned down Congressman Peter DeFazio on whether he's still considering a run for Governor in 2010. The answer? You bet.

Last spring, DeFazio talked about making a decision on the governor's race by Labor Day, and now Kitzhaber and Bradbury have been running for months. When will DeFazio make a final decision on the race?

"Filing day," he says serenely --a calculation that would give him until next March.

"I have that luxury. Ask the pollsters. Most of the polls show me and John in a dead heat, without me advertising.

"I could be viable, and I would have enough money to get my message out."

Right now, DeFazio points out, he has $600,000 to $700,000 in his campaign fund, and Oregon's anything-goes campaign-finance laws would let him use that money in a state race. (The federal laws being considerably stiffer, it wouldn't work the other way around.) After 23 years in Congress, he starts with considerable statewide name recognition and a stronghold in the 4th District, which has now elected him 12 times.

http://www.blueoregon.com/2009/11/orgov-defazio-to-decide-by-march.html

[FightingIrish]

1. Oregon needs to get serious about replacing our one and only Republical congressman

Much of Greg Walden's district is getting pretty blue.

[movonne]

2. I live in DeFazio's district and he is great...but I also like Kitzhaber and

Bill Bradley...Bradley live is the same small town as I do..so anyone of them would be great...