Oregon Public Broadcasting

Name recognition counts for a lot in politics. So you'd think a former NBA basketball player like Chris Dudley would enjoy a huge advantage over his opponents in the Republican primary for Oregon governor.

Chris Dudley makes his case to potential Republican voters at a restaurant in Dallas, Oregon.

Chris Dudley has jumped out to a significant lead when it comes to fundraising. But it remains to be seen whether the first-time candidate can win over GOP voters in May.

In the hour leading up to a Portland Trail Blazers basketball game, the plaza outside of the Rose Garden is a frenzy of ticket scalpers and t-shirt vendors:

Voices: "Anybody got extras? -- Who's got extra, who's got extra? -- Five bucks each."

But these days, that's not the only kind of sales pitch being made to basketball fans. Chris Dudley campaign workers hand out stickers as throngs of people stream into the arena.

Dudley campaign worker: "Chris Dudley for governor, former Trail Blazers. We'd like your support."

The Blazers were one of five NBA teams Dudley played for over 16 years. In fact, he ended his career in Portland in 2003.

Campaign workers for Chris Dudley look for votes outside the building where the gubernatorial candidate spent part of his NBA career.

Many in the crowd heading into this game said they knew little about Dudley. And those who did all said nearly the same thing when asked about his time with the Portland team.

Matthew Johnston: "Well, other than that he couldn't shoot free throws I thought he was a real stand-up guy."

That's Matthew Johnston of Portland. And he's right about Dudley's ability from the foul line. In fact, Dudley's official NBA bio mentions his free-throw futility in the very first sentence.

But many Blazers fans I spoke with also spoke fondly of Dudley's off-court reputation, such as his work with diabetic children.

Matthew Johnston says he might consider voting for Dudley.

Matthew Johnston: "I'll look at the issues, but he's definitely got me tempted with the name recognition."

Johnston's an independent and he won't vote in the Republican primary. For Dudley to win in May, he'll have to convince loyal Republicans to vote for him.

Dudley's been criss-crossing the state, making campaign stops in small towns like Dallas, Oregon.

In one stop at a restaurant, the 6' 11' Dudley towered above his audience. He barely mentioned his days in the NBA to this group of farmers, loggers and retirees.

Chris Dudley: "I obtained my CFP, which is Certified Financial Planner. I've been a senior vice president at a wealth management firm in Portland, Oregon."

But even those credentials didn't impress everyone in the audience.

During a question and answer time, local farmer Vern Ratzlaff said point-blank to Dudley: "It's kind of obvious you've lived in town all your life." Ratzlaff told me afterward that any candidate that gets his vote must demonstrate a firm understanding of natural resources.

Vern Ratzlaff: "City people don't make their living that way for the most part. And so they don't really see the necessity or the importance of it. They see the dollars after they're refined and get to town, you might say. But you don't see them at the grassroots level."

Of course, Dudley's chief opponents in the May primary -- Allen Alley and John Lim -- don't exactly come off as rugged pioneers either.

And to win, Dudley will have to convince the GOP faithful that not only can he win in November, but that he has the skills to be governor in the first place.

That might be a tall order, given that Dudley is trying to become the first Oregon governor since the Great Depression to be elected without holding a prior office.

Dudley's been painting his lack of government experience as an asset.

Chris Dudley: "I'm a believer that to be a leader doesn't necessarily mean you have to be in government for 30 years. I think there's real-world, other experiences that are very valuable as well."

That political inexperience shows on the campaign trail. At least, it does according to former Oregon labor commissioner Jack Roberts. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2002. From his vantage point, Dudley hasn't yet honed the campaign skills needed to win a statewide race.

Jack Roberts: "I think that Chris may have waited a little late to get into this race. He hasn't really faced --as far as I know -- the tough questions, the people who want to corner him and pin him down. And knowing how to deal with that, are things that don't come naturally to anybody. You gotta learn them."

On the other hand, Roberts says, in a year when voters may be upset with government in general, Dudley's on the right track when he talks up his outsider status.

Jack Roberts: "Chris Dudley I think has the ability to say ëI'm mobilizing some resources and money from people who are not traditional givers, I'm mobilizing some people in the campaign who are not necessarily traditional political people. And therefore I'm the more legitimate outsider candidate.'"

But Dudley's also making inroads with the GOP establishment. He's raised more than a million dollars, and won the endorsement of several Oregon business groups.