Obama Minus 10: Program of President's Appearance For Kitzhaber Includes Some Interesting Names

Former Gov. John Kitzhaber's spokeswoman Jillian Schoene says the crowd on hand for President Obama at the Oregon Convention Center has already exceeded 7,000, with a line still snaking down Martin Luther King Boulevard outside.

The program for Obama's scheduled 6 pm speech includes some interesting names beyond Kitzhaber, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee: Oregon Bus Project founder Rep. Jefferson Smith (D-Portland) will welcome the crowd and then lead the Pledge of Allegiance; Pink Martini singer China Forbes will sing the national anthem and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) will speak on behalf of Oregon's congressional delegation.

Unlike many high-level addresses by elected officials, no advance copies of the speeches by either Obama or Kitzhaber are available, which may mean both will wing their remarks.