ALBANY — Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton barnstormed across Oregon Friday, wooing voters in the most competitive state left to weigh in on the Democratic primary.

But while Clinton went after Obama over the differences in their approaches on health care, Obama kept his focus directly on presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, and on appealing to the independents and moderate Republicans that he is hoping would support him in the fall, if he gets the nomination.

The stakes in the state are high for both candidates. Clinton is hoping to pull off a come-from-behind victory in Oregon, while Obama’s campaign manager has said that the state could yield enough pledged delegates to give Obama a majority, essentially securing the nomination. Political analysts have said that when ballots are tallied on May 20, Oregon is likely to be in Obama’s column.

Clinton spoke briefly on universal health care at a invitation-only forum at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, criticizing Obama’s version for mandating coverage only for children, and not also for adults.

Obama started the day with a visit to an educational software business in Beaverton, then made a stop at a taqueira in heavily-Hispanic Woodburn before headlining a town hall in Albany, where he fielded questions from the audience. Obama promised them he’d support stem cell research and close Guantanamo Bay, put billions into early childhood education and put an end to big subsidies for agribusiness. He was set to visit Eugene for a rally Friday night, then head to Bend for another town hall today.

In Albany, Obama said he admired McCain’s military record, but he told the crowd of about 3,000 that, “The fact of the matter is that John McCain is running for a third George W. Bush term, and that is something America can’t afford right now.”

Obama also dismissed concerns that the drawn-out primary season would fracture Democrats come November, saying Democrats would unify to defeat McCain.

McCain is due to visit Oregon on Monday, his first visit of this election cycle.

Obama was flanked on stage by his brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, the newly appointed basketball coach at nearby Oregon State University, and Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio, a superdelegate who announced his support for Obama Thursday night.

DeFazio, who represents Eugene, plus parts of the Willamette Valley and the Oregon Coast, called Obama “the best candidate to break the stranglehold of special interests in Washington, D.C.”, and said it was “Oregon’s turn in the national spotlight, and we will not disappoint America on Election Day.”

In his speech, Obama emphasized themes that resonate in environmentally aware Oregon, saying that one of the gravest consequences of Clinton’s proposal for a summer holiday from the federal gas tax would have been to postpone making changes in the country’s reliance on oil and fossil fuels. Investing in solar and wind energy, he said, could result in “millions of green collar jobs,” across Oregon and the rest of the country; Clinton has emphasized similar language in her trips to the state.

But on Friday, Clinton concentrated solely on health care, saying, “If you don’t start in favor of universal health care, you’ll never get there. How can you run for the Democratic nomination and not have a universal health care plan?”

Clinton and Obama’s stances on health care are similar, but there are some subtle differences.

Clinton’s plan recalls auto insurance mandates; under it, all Americans would be required to purchase health insurance, which would be underwritten by employers and the government. She’s said the costs of such a system could be covered by eliminating tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000, plus by finding savings in the current system.

Obama wants to require that all children have health insurance, and has said the country should “aim” for universal coverage. He has also called for eliminating tax cuts for wealthier households to offset the costs.

Speaking to the difference between the two plans, Obama has previously said that Clinton wants to “force” everyone to purchase health insurance, while he prefers to emphasize reducing costs, so more people can afford coverage.

His message had resonated with most of the voters who turned out to see him in Albany, a working-class stronghold in the mid-Willamette Valley.

“I’m focused on getting people out of Iraq, and he never voted to put them there to begin with,” said Isoma Daniels of North Albany. “And the young people are engaged, and I feel that is totally due to Obama.”

Scottie Jones of Alsea said she respected Clinton, but felt it was time for her to leave the race.

“We are losing strength against John McCain,” Jones said. “It is time to come together to support one of them.”

Not everyone was sold, though. David Shillingstad of Albany brought his nearly 1-year-old grandson to see Obama, but said he hadn’t yet made up his mind about whom to vote for.

“I still have questions about his experience level,” Shillingstad said.