PORTLAND - With the Democratic presidential nomination slipping from his wife's grasp, former President Bill Clinton urged residents from Eastern Oregon to Western Oregon to give her an important victory in the state's upcoming primary.

Clinton told a group of about 125 labor union members in Portland he had "no earthly idea'' why some people want Hillary Rodham Clinton to leave the race. He closed with what sounded like a plea for continued faith in his wife, even as more superdelegates move to Barack Obama's column.

"She has been declared dead more times than a cat has lives,'' he said. "But you don't want the person in the Oval Office to quit on you when the going gets tough.''

Clinton's on a three-day, 13-city swing through the state. He visits Corvallis, Eugene and three coastal cities on Monday before heading to Roseburg, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls on Tuesday.

On Sunday, he made appearances in three rural communities before returning to Portland later in the day. In Pendleton, Baker City and Redmond, Clinton touted his wife's economic, education, energy and health care policies.

Clinton said his wife had short- and long-term plans for improving the economy, first by creating new jobs to repair the nation's bridges, roads and rail lines. In the long term, he said, she'll support homegrown energy sources and spend "serious money'' to get drivers into energy-efficient vehicles, homes and buildings.

Bill's in Corvallis

Bill Clinton scheduled a "bring your ballot" event in Corvallis tonight. He'll be at Lincoln School, 110 S.E. Alexander Ave., at

6 p.m. Earlier today he was in Astoria, Tillamook and Newport. From Corvallis he'll go to Eugene for an 8:15 p.m. "bring your ballot" event in the EMU Ballroom at the University of Oregon. The events are free and open to the public, and it's not necessary to "bring your ballot" to attend.