State Race is… Buehler? Buehler? 

09/26/12   Portland Tribune

There’s a reason Democratic Secretary of State Kate Brown’s re-election campaign is sounding increasingly desperate — her race against Republican Knute Buehler is getting increasingly competitive, as recently rated by Governing magazine.

In its analysis of races across the country, the national political digest said, “Democrats have had a lock on the office since 1984, but Buehler is making it a race, almost doubling Brown’s money haul. The challenge for Buehler is that he’ll be on his own: The GOP isn’t putting a serious effort into the presidential race or several statewide contests.”

In recent weeks, Brown has looked weak by unsuccessfully challenging Buehler to limit his campaign spending and warning her supporters that he is planning to conduct a negative campaign against her.

Governing magazine noted that the Democratic turnout for President Obama helped Brown win in 2008, something that could happen again this year.