Oregon Public Broadcasting

Senator Hillary Clinton drew a big smile from one of her most powerful backers in the Northwest with her speech last night at the Democratic convention.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski was an early supporter of Clinton, as a state superdelegate. Kulongoski didn’t go to the convention in Denver, but he did watch her speech from home, while working on one of his own.

He says Clinton reminded people of why they supported her - but gave a boost to presumptive nominee, Barack Obama.

Ted Kulongoski: “She is a fighter, I think she cares about people. I think she has values that the average American people has. I think she helped a lot of people get over to the side and say ‘I’m going to support and work to help Senator Obama.’ I was already there.”

Kulongoski says Clinton’s speech sets a high bar for Barack Obama to clear. But he says he believes Obama will be up to the task, when he speaks in Denver Thursday night.