Frank Dixon

Frank Dixon, the Democratic Party of Oregon’s first vice-chair, is calling on U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) to clarify remarks he made last week during a panel discussion on gay rights at the Center for American Progress.

Smith responded to Dixon in an email to PolitickerOR.com.

Sneaking in his endorsement right before Sen. Barack Obama won the required number of delegates in today’s primaries, superdelegate Frank Dixon, Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon jumped on the Obama wagon.

“I have waited until the end of this race to announce my decision out of respect for Senator Hillary Clinton, her campaign staff and passionate supporters who have made this closely contested primary an historic contest. No primary has drawn this kind of interest and participation from so many voters in so many states,” Dixon said in a statement.

As the Oregon primary looms near, the race to secure more superdelegates continues to heat up. Barack Obama's campaign announced today the endorsement of Congressman Peter Defazio, adding to current endorsers Congressmen Earl Blumenauer and David Wu.