NORTH BEND - With the Oregon primary just a week away, Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama gets his campaign message across in the South Coast with help from a former governor.

Ray Mabus, who was Governor of Mississippi in the late 80's to early 90's, spoke to area residents at the North Bend Labor Hall on Tuesday morning, campaigning for Obama.

Among the topics he touched upon included Obama's plans to provide basic health care, education, bringing the troops back from the war, as well as improving the economy by moving towards more greener industries and fuels of the future.

Mabus, who hails from a small town himself, also addressed rural issues. Among them included having a more permanent fix for the federal timber payments and helping fishermen, who are reeling from the recent salmon closure, by looking into the factors that caused the failure.

Mabus did joke that Oregon is a pretty big state after having made stops in Portland, Pendleton and Bend. He will be in Medford and Roseburg on
Tuesday night for the final push in Oregon for Obama's campaign.