Today, from 5-7pm, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain is having a fundraising dinner in the Sheraton Hotel near the airport. Only ticket holders (No Press!) will be allowed inside.

Frank Dixon is a retired Major in the Army Reserves and now the Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. He also happens to be an uncommitted superdelegate.

Major Frank Dixon standing in the Sheraton parking lot.

Major Dixon stood alongside a handful of Democrats and protested McCain’s “100 years in Iraq” comment.

“We need to get out of Iraq. There’s been over 4,000 deaths, exponentially more wounded, 100 Oregonians have died in the war so far, and we have no exit strategy. We have no good reason to stay.”

Many argue that Democrats are taking McCain’s “100 year war” comment out of context. They say that it was a figure of speech, that McCain was just trying to say that he’d do what it takes to set up a functional Iraqi government, that some kind of America presence would be there as long as it took to create a stable Iraq, whether that meant a year or a 100. Did the Major really think McCain would be ok with a 100 year war?

“Hey he’s the one that said it. I think everyone knows this would be a 3rd Bush term if he is elected.”

As a superdelegate, what’s it been like to be such a sought after commodity?

“It’s been cool. Meeting with the candidates has been very impressive. I am in awe of them.”

When’s the last time you spoke to Hillary or Obama?

“Last Friday, I rode on Obama’s bus to Beaverton. He was sitting with his legs up. He was there with his brother in law, the new head basketball coach of Oregon State. We spoke for about 20 minutes.”

“Barack is charismatic, inspritational, and can relate to you on a human level, without pretense. There was lots of enthusiasm on the bus.”

“He asked about Oregon issues and we talked about LNG and timber issues, not to mention all the big national ones like the war and the economy.”

He added, “It’d be a big plus for Oregon to have the President’s brother in law as coach of Oregon State.”

“I sat down with Hilary last Friday also. It was about 9:30 in the morning and after traveling across the country in an airplane, she was just perfect. Was great with the meet and greet, the Oregon issues, visually, all perfect.”

“Senator Clinton is a fighter and a hard campaigner, she commands respect for those reasons.”

It wasn’t the first time they sat down with each other - Dixon met with Hillary a few weeks ago in a high school gym weight room. He said it was surreal.

So who’s he going with?

“I can’t speak in absolutes, both candidates have done a remarkable job in this state. You never know what will happen. I’ll probably go with whomever the Oregon voters vote for.”