Oregon is the center of the political universe today

According to the Oregonian site, anyway.

Sen. Barack Obama is speaking at a Beaverton high-tech workplace this morning, while his main competitor for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, will host a health care roundtable discussion at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Oregon is the center of the political universe today as the dueling campaigns cross paths in the state. Both candidates made motorcade passes just blocks apart through downtown Portland as they headed for their campaign events, snarling traffic and thrilling passers-by.

Local television covered Obama's speech at Vernier Software and Technology live. While his question-and-answer session drew attention, Clinton waited at Doernbecher to make her appearance -- seemingly waiting for local TV airtime to become available.

Obama's campaign is buoyed by Thursday's pickup of an Oregon superdelegate. Obama won the endorsement of Rep. Peter DeFazio, one of the state's superdelegates.