Oregon eager to have candidates visit

EUGENE, Ore., March 20 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., may have the distinction of holding one of the last in a string of presidential campaign rallies at an Oregon landmark.

The Democratic presidential hopeful's "Stand for Change Rally" at University of Oregon's McArthur Court is scheduled for Friday, six weeks before voting begins in the state's May 20 vote-by-mail primary election.

Marc Seigel, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Oregon, said he expected both Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York to campaign heavily in the Beaver State, The Register-Guard in Eugene reported.

"Our 65 delegates matter, and we're thrilled to see the presidential candidates coming through," Seigel said.

Built in 1927, Mac Court, as it is known, is to be replaced by a new arena in 2010, the newspaper said. During its 81-year history, it has welcomed several presidential candidates, including Ronald Reagan, Jesse Jackson and Bill Clinton, and other national political leaders such as Robert Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt and Tom Dewey.