U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) was enthusiastic about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-Ill.) picking U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running mate, even though he didn’t think the choice would have much of an effect on some of Oregon’s hotly contested races, including the U.S. Senate race and the congressional race in District 5.

“It’s part of a winning ticket,” Blumenauer said of Biden, as he was preparing to leave for the Democratic National Convention in Denver Sunday. “It looks good for the prospects of winning the Senate race. And Kurt Schrader is doing well in the 5th congressional district. We’re in good shape top to bottom. But Joe Biden’s selection won’t really affect any one of those races.”

Blumenauer said that the only way the VP pick could have impacted Oregon’s down-ticket races was if the pick was a questionable pick. And, according to Blumenauer, Biden is a solid pick for Obama, and will strengthen the Democratic presidential prospects across the country, especially in Pennsylvania, where Biden grew up.

“He has vast experience, and he is someone who is very knowledgeable and gets high marks,” Blumenauer said. “He is smart, articulate, and a good campaigner. He will certainly help the ticket.”

But if the Obama-Biden ticket is going to succeed in Oregon, Blumenauer said it would also be because of the tireless effort of volunteers, including a relentless voter registration drive that Blumenauer said has added close to 125,000 additional Democrats to Oregon’s voter rolls in 2008 alone.

“It was the volunteers that made it possible for 75,000 to see Obama at Waterfront Park,” Blumenauer said. “We’ve got a good campaign going. It’s really encouraging, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Oregon.”