By Shelley Conroy
Congressional Quarterly

Electoral votes: 7

Delegates: 24

Chairman: Perry Atkinson

Hotel: Holiday Inn King of Prussia (610) 265-7500

1996 Election:
Clinton – 47%
Dole – 39%
Perot – 9%

Texas Gov. George W. Bush will have to maintain his centrist posture if he hopes to win Oregon's seven electoral votes. Oregon is a "swing" state with large numbers of voters who are liberal-to-moderate on social issues and on the environment.

And the Republican standard-bearers in the past three presidential elections - the elder George Bush in 1988 and 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996 - failed to win the state.

However, the state Republican Party has large constituencies of activists from the conservative end of the political spectrum, and Bush first had to win their hearts to secure support from Oregon's delegation to the national convention.

According to Perry Atkinson, chairman of both the state Republican Party and the party's delegation to Philadelphia, the delegation is "solidly pro-life and fiscally conservative."

Bush was able to dominate a May 16 primary that took place long after he had clinched the nomination, but he still wasn't conservative enough for some Oregon Republicans: Three of the state's 24 delegates are pledged to fiery social conservative activist and talk show host Alan Keyes.

The Oregon group wants to preserve party platform language opposing abortion and favoring smaller government and fewer taxes, Atkinson said. He said he believes the delegation may also focus on issues affecting Western states, particularly environmental regulations that limit timber harvesting and that result in what Atkinson called a federal "land grab."

Oregon Republican Party Executive Director Darryl Howard - who is not a delegate - characterized the delegation as "diverse in background and occupation." Of the 48-member contingent of delegates and alternates, 22 are women - including state Republican National Committeewoman June Hartley.

According to state Republican officials, two members of the delegation are under age 25, and there are small representations of African-Americans and Chinese-Americans.

Many members of this year's delegation are making

return trips to the national convention. Atkinson attended in 1992 and 1996 and Hartley is making her fourth trip.

Also in the delegation is Brian Boquist, the Republican challenger to two-term Democratic Rep. Darlene Hooley in the 5th Congressional District.

OREGON NOTABLES: Perry Atkinson, state Republican Party chairman and delegation chairman; state Republican National Committeewoman June Hartley; international aviation company head Brian Boquist, the Republican nominee in the 5th Congressional District.