Republican Party leaders expect President Bush’s visit to Southern Oregon Thursday to have a dynamic domino effect that will ripple through all levels of Oregon politics.

Related stories: • 'This is history': The president's short visit leaves a wealth of memories • The speech: Preventing devastating wildfires isn't political, Bush says • The text of the president's speech • The tour: Pushing 'common sense' at the site of the Squire fire • Protesters were stuck in a zone of their own • Bush leaves speech audience 'star-struck' • Scouts were prepared for a long wait to see the president • Photos from Bush's stop in the Rogue Valley

"I think it will energize the base and get Republicans out to vote and get Gordon Smith and Kevin Mannix elected," said Solomon Yue, Republican national committeeman for Oregon. "It will keep a Republican majority in the Legislature.

"It lets people know that Oregon is very, very important to the White House."

Others said the president’s message about forest health and the timber industry will boost even county commissioner races.

"George Bush has a vision and is changing the way we look at things," said Tiny Robertson, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party. "He’s popular and any politician that gets on board will be re-elected unless they really mess up."

Mannix, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, quipped: "There shouldn’t be a Democrat in Southern Oregon after today."

This is the second time in a year that Bush has come to Oregon but the first time he’s been in Southern Oregon. It’s the first time a president has made a major policy address in Southern Oregon.

One of Bush’s objectives on this trip is to raise money for U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who is being challenged by Democrat Bill Bradbury, now Oregon secretary of state.

Oregon Republican Party Chairman Perry Atkinson said the state is 11th on a list of 19 states being targeted by the White House.

"What ranks Oregon up the ladder is the significant gains we’ve already made," Atkinson said. "We’ve picked up seven counties since 2000. We now have 29 out of 36 counties and lowered the registration gap."

Atkinson and Yue said they expect Republicans to become the state’s majority party in November. Democrats currently hold the edge by about 40,000 voters.

Mannix, who is running against Democrat Ted Kulongoski, said Oregonians can’t fail to notice that "our Republican president wants to help us solve major problems."

He said he expects the president’s visit will have the biggest impact among non-affiliated voters.

"Independents will understand I can make use of this positive attitude of the White House and they will imagine a Governor Mannix working with an administration which is favorably inclined to solve major problems for Oregon," Mannix said.

"This is something my opponent won’t be able to offer."

But Democrat Bradbury said he’s not worried about the president’s visit.

"Obviously any time the president comes to Oregon it has an impact. Obviously it is raising a huge amount of money," said Bradbury. "But it’s not something that can’t be overcome before Election Day."

"The real issue here is that the president is here because he has a vulnerable member of his party to defend."

Even Republican county commissioner candidates differ on the impact of the visit on their races.

"Sure, those of us little on the food chain politically will reap from this," said County Commissioner Ric Holt. "We stand for what he stands for. How could it not?"

County Commissioner Jack Walker said he’s not banking on it.

"I think I’m relying on my accomplishments," Walker said. "Not the accomplishments of anyone else."

One of the firefighters who sat on the bleachers behind the president during his speech said the Republicans’ optimism over Bush’s visit is overblown, at least when it comes to his vote.

"I’ll look at their take on the environment," said independent voter Gene Shull, who only two days ago was lighting burn-out blazes at the Biscuit fire. "Just because the Republicans are close-knit with George Bush won’t swing my vote."

And Shull said he "definitely" wouldn’t vote for G.W. He disagrees with most of the president’s policies on natural resources.

But Shull couldn’t help but be awed that Bush had "come to see the little people."

"I hope to meet him," he said just before the president took the podium. "That would be cool."