PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An election to replace former Rep. David Wu has turned into a frenzied dash to the finish as heavily-favored Democrat Suzanne Bonamici seeks to put an emphatic victory stamp on the 1st Congressional District race.
First, she’ll have to get past Republican Rob Cornilles, a year older and wiser after losing the race for the same seat by 11 percentage points in 2010.
At a debate in Portland on Friday, the two traded shots on climate change, free trade and abortion. Cornilles faces an uphill climb in the district, where Democrats hold a 12-point voter registration edge.
Bonamici stressed her experience in the state Legislature as a qualifier for her candidacy.
Cornilles, the owner of a Tualatin sports marketing company, says he is the only candidate who has created jobs.
