By the time Air Force One touched down in Oregon on Thursday before a pro-trade pep rally at Nike Inc., Rep. Suzanne Bonamici already had gotten the full Barack Obama treatment.
The courtship included a hard-to-get invitation to a state dinner at the White House, extensive briefings from top administration officials, as well as lobbying by local businesses.
It worked. The Democrat from Beaverton, the location of Nike's headquarters, said last week that after being undecided for months, she'll vote for legislation expanding the president's power to cut trade deals.