[aphextron]

>If "Texas" is a downside for Austin, then surely Portland has the same problem? Isn't the rest of the state strongly conservative?

It definitely does, but to a lesser extent. Oregon is a reliably blue state because the population is extremely sparse outside of Portland, whereas Austin is just a bubble amid a sea of red. Oregon is also a lot less of the "southern redneck confederate" type, and more of the "libertarian don't tread on me" conservative, which is far more tolerable.