Even with Sam Adams and Jeff Cogen pushing for higher taxes, only half of likely Democratic voters favor largest property tax increase in Oregon history

The Oregonian's Steve Duin reports on Portland Public Schools megabucks campaign to send property taxes through the roof:

The three girls sit in the middle of the maelstrom Monday night, the Hansen soda cans empty, the pizza slice forgotten, pounding numbers into cell phones, oblivious to the din about them.

A half hour earlier, Mayor Sam Adams rolled through the room like a wisp of smoke, leaving Jeff Cogen, the Multnomah County chairman, to frame the challenge posed by the Portland Public Schools' $548 million bond measure.

Even with political heavyweights calling the shots and kids straight out of Oliver Twist, the developer funded campaign is challenged to find support even among the strongest supporters of public education.

After an hour, the girls tally up the results. They made 146 calls and connected with a grand total of 30 voters. Sixteen of the 30 said they'd support the $548 million bond measure and the local option levy. Seven were negative and seven undecided.

And these are the likely voters, the motivated voters, the Democrats?