GOP Congressional Candidate Backs Obama

In June, businessman Joel Haugen won more than 70 percent of the vote in a contested Republican primary to carry the party's banner in this fall's race to represent Oregon's 1st congressional district.

But Haugen's name may not appear on the fall ballot as a Republican.

That's because many of his fellow partisans are upset with the fact that Haugen is an outspoken supporter of Democrat Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency.

Obama, says Haugen, is right on the issues and far more likely than Republican John McCain to unite the country.

And he's been saying it for some time.

Before the June primary in the Portland-area district – which is represented by Democrat David Wu – Haugen informed Republican officials of his enthusiasm for Obama's candidacy. And that fact was reported in the local media.

Since his nomination, however, the progressive Republican who identifies with Republicans like former President Teddy Roosevelt and old-school Oregon Republican leaders such as former Governor Tom McCall and former Senator Mark Hatfield has been attacked and ostracized by members of his own party.

Neal Lockhart, a veteran GOP activist in the district, recently informed Haugen that, "As a lifelong member of the Republican Party, I am stunned that you would actually think ... anybody that is a true Republican would even think of helping you."

"You are not a real Republican, you are a shill," Lockhart told Haugen. "You are exactly what I have warned everyone about. Please do us a favor, quit the party."

Haugen may do that.

The Republican nominee now says he is considering giving up the GOP line and running as the candidate of the Oregon Independent Party. Founded a year ago, the Independent Party has more than 22,000 members and is this year running a number of candidates for federal, state and local offices in Oregon.

Comments (2)

1. Hey, I wonder how significant Mr. Nichols will find it when all those Southern Democrats start voting for McCain?

   Posted by pontificus at 07/25/2008 @ 1:53pm

2. I'm Joel Haugen's campaign manager and would like to clarify that he is not changing his registration or rescinding the Republicans' nomination for Oregon's 1st Congressional District. With that said, he is enthusiastic about potentially receiving the support and endorsement of the Oregon Independent Party.

   I would also like to state that in no way is Joel attempting to demonize the Oregon Republican Party with his actions. In fact, we sympathize with the predicament this situation has created for GOP leadership. Joel is simply supporting issues and individuals he believes in, as he feels the nation's well-being takes precedent to that of the party.

   Posted by sarahtiedemann at 07/25/2008 @ 9:49pm