PORTLAND, Ore. --Senator Barack Obama paid a visit to an educational software company in Beaverton and praised the work they do.

Surrounded by workers at Vernier Software & Technology, Obama discussed his plans for developing the country's investment in education and science, saying the company was producing the types of workers needed to fuel the U.S. economy.

Obama stressed his economic strategy while speaking to the workers, who also asked questions in the event that lasted over an hour.

One audience member asked, will you take Hillary as your running mate?

“I have not won this nomination yet.” “I think it would be presumptuous of me to suggest that she's going to be my running mate when we are still actively running. We do not have this nomination locked up. We are still competing," Obama replied. "Until I'm the nominee I don't want to speculate on running mates.

“I will say that she has shown herself to be an extraordinary candidate, an extraordinary public service, an extraordinary pub servant. She is hardworking, she is tough, she is very smart. So I think she would be on anybody’s list, short list, of vice presidential candidates,” he added.

When discussing the economy, Obama said he has a plan to turn it around, but it will take time.

"Understand if you just save five percent in the federal budget, that's a lot of money, and it certainly pays for a lot of things," he said. "We're still going to have a hole to dig ourselves out of and I am not promising that in the first year, suddenly we will have a balanced budget. We are having to grow ourselves out of the hole that we're in. By the end of two years in office, hopefully we're back in a situation where we're balaced up."

KGW photo

Senator Obama speaks to workers in the Portland area.

Obama's campaign office scheduled his Oregon visit after a big win in North Carolina.

Senator Obama will return to Oregon on May 9th and 10th with events in Portland, Albany and Eugene.

 More: Obama's schedule

Obama's drive to nail down the party nod was buoyed with a double-digit win in North Carolina and a stronger-than-expected run in Indiana, where he almost overcame rival Hillary Rodham Clinton Wednesday night.

Obama was expected to compete for the six remaining Democratic contests but to also turn attention to general election states, aides said.

Obama pocketed the support of at least four Democratic convention superdelegates on Wednesday, building on the momentum from a convincing North Carolina primary victory.

Hillary Clinton vowed to remain in the race "until there's a nominee."