After Peter DeFazio announced his decision not to run for the Senate, the race became an unavoidable topic. I said I would look at it and consider whether a candidacy made sense for me and my family. At this time, it does not, and I have decided not to run for the US Senate.…
The difficulty in even doing the ground work to evaluate the race was that I have an important, all consuming day job. After years of working in the minority, fighting the Bush administration and Tom DeLay to stop reckless policies and promote Oregon priorities, the world has dramatically changed.
My issues, from ending the Iraq war to stopping global warming, to making sure everyone has health care they can afford, a quality education, and a good job, have gained not just attention, but traction and even momentum. My committee assignments put me in the best possible position to deal with these priorities everyday. I’ve been working for over a decade to get on the Ways and Means Committee and to regain a Democratic majority. I say with January both of these dreams become a reality. Speaker Nancy Pelosi also chose me to serve on the new Global Warming and Energy Independence Committee.
At this unique moment in history there is too much work to be done in the House of Representatives to take on a campaign for the US Senate.
As you can see, giving up a seat in the majority caucus in the House is tough indeed. All the more reason to be impressed with Mark Udall’s and Tom Allen’s decision to seek higher office. But they may be the only sitting Congressmen to do so this cycle. Chuck Schumer will likely have to look elsewhere for his top-tier recruits. However, I’m not all that worried – last cycle, only one of our top Senate candidates* was a member of the House. I think we’ll be able to find plenty of good office-seekers from other quarters this time, too.
* Who challenged an incumbent – Sherrod Brown. Brownsox reminds us about Ben Cardin, Bernie Sanders and Harold Ford.
us out for another Congressional Candidate.
Gotta keep trying till you get a no right? Anyway, if all this does is raise the profile of Blumenauer and Defazio than its been worthwhile.
There is little that is positive regarding Blumenauer’s decision to pass on challenging Gordon Smith. It makes a shaky incumbent safer in a seat we really need to take. Gordon Smith’s attempts to challenge Bush to gain “maverick” status mask a very conservative voting record.
I agree with DavidNYC that a stong nominee may emerge but if the DSCC is not totally fixated on that seat with the goal of locating an emerging Demicrat fast this seat might also be biggest missed opportunity of 2008 and that would be a shame.
I count four sitting members of the House who were top Senate candidates last cycle (Brown, Sanders, Ford, Cardin).
But the larger point, that being a top Senate candidate does not require House experience, is well-taken.
In fact, if was a near-prerequisite for candidates last cycle, it was past experience in some statewide capacity. Sanders was an at-large Rep, and Brown, Casey, McCaskill and Whitehouse had all served in statewide office before.
Even Tester, while not previously elected statewide, had served as State Senate President.
I don’t know how that helps with respect to Oregon, though.
this isn’t good. The plus side is that this time DeFazio and Blumenauer – the two big candidates not counting Kitzhaber – are bowing out early. The Oregon Democrats’ biggest mistake in 2002 was waiting for the big candidates to drag their feet and make up their minds before they ran someone. When Bill Bradbury finally ran against Smith in the late summer, it quickly became a joke.
With Kitzhaber running for governor in 2010, I think Novick is our best bet to take this seat. He certainly has the charisma, as well as the advantage of not being connected to Kulongoski (unlike Bradbury). I don’t think he’ll flip quite as many Republicans/right-wing Democrats away from Smith the way DeFazio would have, but his campaign could still catch fire, especially if DeFazio, Blumenauer, and especially Ron Wyden are willing to campaign hard for him. Novick would be going into the campaign with twice Smith’s spirit regardless of what happens, and can at least damage Smith’s fork-tongued “moderate” persona, which is the key to defeating him. If Claire McCaskill could win Missouri, I think Steve Novick has a fighting chance in Oregon.
To be honest, I’m much more concerned about Minnesota at this point. Novick will catch fire long before Franken or Ceresi does.
in order to make a run for statewide office US Senator or Governor. Most of them don’t give up their seats unless they are running for an open seat or challenging a vulnerable incumbent.
example- 2006-(Cardin-MD,Brown-OH,Sanders-VT)2000(Stabenow-MI),1998(Schumer-NY).
With regards to Gordon Smith- he is no Rick Santorum. He is not a conservative extremeist. He will not alienate Moderates or Independents. However He is no Lincoln Chafee. He is conservative enough to win his party’s nomination without a fight. He is no George Allen- Their won’t be a macaca-you tube moment coming from Smith. He is no Burns-(Controversy,senility,). He is in a similar situation as Kyl-AZ,Talent-MO,Ensign-NV and DeWine-OH. Smith is somewhat of a maverick(DeWine-OH) and has a good working relationship with his homestate collegue(Wyden-OR)-Ensign-NV.