Ben Westlund

Senate Democrats drew a great sigh of relief last March when the filing deadline for legislative candidates came and went and no opposition appeared for any of their vulnerable candidates, particularly Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson of Gresham.  However, that sigh may have been somewhat premature when Republican Dave Kim won a GOP write-in nomination in May.

State treasurer candidate Allen Alley (R-Lake Oswego) released an ad Monday that touts his business record and implies that his campaign rival, state Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo), does not have the experience to navigate Oregon through the country’s current economic crisis.

Republican state treasurer candidate Allen Alley boosts of his financial experience while telling Democrat opponent Ben Westlund "this is no time for on the job training."  No mention of his own financial failures.

State Treasurer candidate Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) released the first television ad in this statewide race Friday.

PORTLAND -- State Treasurer candidates Allen Alley (R-Lake Oswego) and State Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) used their first debate Friday to lay out their logic as to whether business experience or legislative experience would be better for leading Oregon through troubled economic times.

State Treasurer candidates Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) and Allen Alley (R-Lake Oswego) will have a chance to address the growing concern about Oregon’s financial future when they meet for their first debate Friday at the Portland City Club.

Even though John McCain  is calling for Friday night’s presidential debate to be postponed, Oregon political junkies can still gather around the television Friday to watch two candidates go head to head on issues regarding the impending financial crisis.

Gordon Smith had another bad week. Lots of polling data coming out for the contested races across the state. And we find bailouts are not mutually exclusive to Wall Street (or Republicans). Here are this week's Winners & Losers.

State Treasurer candidate Allen Alley’s campaign manager said that despite being down in a poll released Thursday, there was a large number of undecided voters that the former Pixelworks CEO would be able to pick up before Election Day.

A poll released Thursday shows that State Sen. Ben Westlund has a commanding lead in Oregon’s race for State Treasurer.

The poll, conducted by Portland Tribune/Fox 12, showed Westlund leading businessman Allen Alley 34 percent to 22 percent.  Westlund has the largest lead in the state of all the Democratic candidates. The Tribune’s poll showed that presidential candidate Barack Obama had a 10-point lead in the state, while Secretary of State candidate Kate Brown had an eight-point lead.