Barack Obama Visiting Oregon and Robert Kennedy's Same Visit 40 Years Ago

As of this writing, Barack Obama is visiting the valley of my home state of Oregon a little early to make sure he'll get votes here when the primary occurs on May 20. Based on the lines that formed from here to China just for the Salem, Ore., town hall Q&A, he probably has it all wrapped up in my home state.

But does he really? Even though I wasn't born yet in 1968, the approaching 40^th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's profound run for president then (and visit to the valley of Oregon just a month and a half before his assassination after winning the California primary) has fascinated me for a while along with the connective strings to Obama's run.

It's worth noting that Robert Kennedy had tremendous crowds on par with Obama's here in Oregon. Yet, Kennedy ultimately lost in the Oregon primary for reasons that might need a re-examination all these years later. With a lot more attention on his presidential run and assassination on its 40^th anniversary, many are saying he surprisingly may not have won the Democratic nomination.

There are differences here with Obama -- just to make sure here history isn't repeating itself. In the scenario with the Democrats now, Hillary Clinton might be considered the equivalent of Robert Kennedy, what with her being behind Obama in delegate counts. With all the mythology behind Kennedy's presidential run, a lot of younger generations who haven't studied the details probably assume that there was a fast-forward streak in getting Kennedy into the White House and that he was way ahead in delegate numbers. The truth is that he was way behind current vice president at the time, Hubert Humphrey -- even after winning the California primary the night he was shot and killed in Los Angeles.

At least Kennedy had a long track record of getting big deals done as attorney general during his brother's presidency and a bit beyond. The irony is that Obama hasn't been tested, yet he is still the favorite to get the nomination despite a few recent controversies (e.g., the Reverend Jeremiah Wright scandal) that he'll likely overcome.