For Oregon delegate hopefuls, Democrats' campaign not over.

Byline: David Steves The Register-Guard

Oregon's presidential primaries are history. Nationally, the Democrats finally have a nominee in Barack Obama.

But some of Oregon's most hard-fought campaigning in the presidential race may be yet to come.

On Saturday, in fact, where it will play out in such venues as Bohemia Elementary School in Cottage Grove.

That's one of five sites where rank-and-file Democrats will gather to choose 34 of the delegates and five alternate delegates who will go on to take part in the party's national convention in Denver.

Given the historic nature of the event - it's where the first African-American will formally be nominated as a major party presidential candidate - and the unprecedented level of participation in the intense campaign between Sens. Obama and Hillary Clinton, the competition for delegate slots is fierce.

How fierce? There are 579 Democrats running - which comes to 17 candidates per delegate slot. That includes 118 statewide seeking roles as delegates pledged to vote for Clinton in Denver and 461 running as pledged Obama delegates.

"I understand that's about three times what it's been in the past," said Jared Mason-Gere, chairman of the Lane County Democrats and himself one of the 95 people running for the 4th Congressional District's allotment of four Obama delegate slots that are up for grabs Saturday at the district's convention in Cottage Grove.

On the Clinton side, the 4th Congressional District convention has attracted 15 candidates for three delegate positions.

The enthusiasm that played out in the run-up to the Democratic primary was measured in an unusually high number of volunteers and a near-record 74.8 percent Democratic primary voter turnout.Mason-Gere said the just-reached conclusion of the primary season doesn't seem to have abated that frenzied level of activism. Now, hundreds of longtime party laborers and newly energized devotees - especially in Obama's camp - are jockeying for a place in the convention hall.

"His campaign generated a huge amount of excitement and I think there are a lot of people newly involved in politics who have jumped right in and are making a play for a spot," Mason-Gere said.

A longtime Democratic activist and Obama backer from Eugene, Scott Bartlett, said he thinks the Obama factor is a big one in explaining the huge number of delegate candidates. Another is the way technology has helped newly energized activists burst open the doors of what used to be a more obscure process of learning how to get involved in such party activities.

"The e-mail grapevine, instant communication, is partly responsible for it, too," said Bartlett, who is running to be a delegate to his fifth Democratic national convention.

With a glut of candidates and a limited number of delegate positions, the campaigning has been more aggressive than in the past, Bartlett and Mason-Gere agree. The Democratic Party of Oregon has aided the candidates by hosting an online site at oregondemocrats.org where they can post a picture and information about themselves, including a pitch for why they deserve to go to the convention this August.

Bartlett, 63, posted a photo of himself with Barack and Michelle Obama, a long list of experiences that go back to his work as an aide to Oregon Sen. Wayne Morse, and a five--paragraph statement that emphasizes his early support for Obama and lifetime support for Democratic candidates.

Andrew Cook, a 30-year-old graduate student at the University of Oregon, said he has never run for anything before he decided to seek a delegate slot. Although he has campaigned for Democrats since he was 22, he acknowledged he's not as well-known as others running for a delegate position and is probably a long shot to capture one. He said he's hoping his pitch - he'll work hard on the convention floor to heal any rift that might still exist between Clinton and Obama supporters - will do the trick.

As they e-mail and call 4th District Democrats who are credentialed to vote for delegates Saturday, candidates allare trying to find a way to stand out in the candidate crowd.

Clinton supporter Alex Ponce of Eugene said he's focusing more on his personal story - he's overcome dyslexia and other challenges and runs the Eugene Christmas Light Show - an elaborate lighting synchronized to Christmas music on a low-power FM station - from his house every year. And Ponce, 45, has two adorable children, who are pictured on his candidate Web posting.

"I decided I'm not going to be like everybody else and put my resume there," said Ponce, a scientific consultant.

Janet Radtke of Yachats also is a Clinton supporter. She said the timing of Saturday's delegate election is bittersweet, coming on the same day the New York senator plans to withdraw, now that Obama has secured the nomination.

Radtke, 66, said she is ready to get behind her party's nominee, even if Obama is not her first choice.

But she alsois hoping to play a role in acknowledging Clinton's groundbreaking run as a female presidential candidate by casting a vote for her on the convention floor.

"For the historical record, it would be nice to show she came this far and got this many votes," Radtke said.

DELEGATING AUTHORITY

Oregon Democrats will hold conventions in each of Oregon's five congressional districts Saturday at 1 p.m. to choose 34 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

4th Congressional District: 95 Obama supporters will seek election to four slots, and 15 Clinton supporters will seek three slots at Bohemia Elementary School, 721 South R St., Cottage Grove

Other delegates: The 34 selected Saturday will be joined by 12 already-selected superdelegates. In addition, 19 delegates will be chosen June 21 at a statewide convention in Monmouth.

More information: www.oregondemocrats.org