Hillary Clinton made her first trip to Oregon, speaking to a packed high school gym just outside of Portland. While they acknowledge that her rival Barack Obama is favored here, the Clinton campaign is playing hard — naming a state director and what the campaign calls a “very active” steering committee, ramping up field staff and opening a state headquarters in Portland next week and satellite offices in every congressional district.

They’re also tailoring their strategy around Oregon’s unique mail-in primary system; ballots will be mailed out on April 28th, and the majority of voters are expected to submit ballots through the post.

“I’m here to meet with you and talk with you and hopefully make my case to you,” she told the voters of Hillsboro, OR. “This is my first trip in a campaign of firsts, and I’m glad to be able to blaze a home in the land of the Trailblazers.”

But even in the Beaver State, she was focused on Michigan and Florida. She’s long argued that their delegates should count, but today she claimed their popular votes should count as well — a move that would put her much closer to Obama in that metric.

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Fort Lauderdale, FL-

 Mike Huckabee got a welcomed endorsement today from one of his former rivals for the GOP nod to the White House. Rep.Duncan Hunter (R-CA) endorsed Huckabee, citing his”outstanding character and integrity.”

” I got to know Governor Hukcabee well on the campaign trail, “said Hunter in a press statement.” Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower.”

Hunter said one other quality compelled him to endorse the Iowa caucus winner.

“Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed, ” Hunter continues.” The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well. My personal choice is Mike Huckabee.”

 Huckabee in a statement provided by the campaign said that he was “honored” to have Hunter’s support. 

“Over the past year, I have come to admire him on a personal and professional level,” Huckabee said.” We share many of the same positions on the military and immigration.I look forward to having his support as our campaign continues to surge ahead to Super Tuesday and beyond.” 

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