Has the DSCC found its candidate in Oregon? According to the AP, state House Speaker Jeff Merkley is almost ready to enter the race against Republican Senator Gordon Smith:
Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley plans to file notice with the Federal Election Commission by Aug. 1 that he'll be running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Gordon Smith, two sources close to the campaign told The Associated Press Tuesday.
Merkley is on vacation in Central Oregon with his family this week, and wants to consult with them one last time before making the final, firm decision to challenge Smith, according to a strategist who has been advising Merkley.
“He could come back and say, 'We've decided that we are just not ready for this,” the strategist said. “I strongly believe that is not going to happen.”
The DSCC's wooing campaign, including favorable internal polls and face time with freshmen Senators, apparently paid off:
Merkley has met with many of the freshmen Democratic senators elected in 2006, including Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, all of whom encouraged him to run, sources said.
He's also been encouraged by recent internal polling, which has shown him within striking distance of the far-better-known Smith, who already has $3.5 million stockpiled for the race. National Democrats, who say Smith is one of their top three or four targets in 2008, have pledged to Merkley that he'll be “financially competitive,” and will likely pay for television ads to be in heavy rotation.
Meanwhile, activist and attorney Steve Novick, the only official challenger in the race so far, released a statement proving that he's a real class act:
Novick, though, said he would “welcome Jeff to the race, and look forward to a series of joint appearances around the state, where each of us will make the case for why Gordon needs to be replaced.”
How refreshing it is to hear a candidate press on undeterred, continuing to make their case for change while pointedly not whining about being “muscled out” of the race by “DC insiders”. Rock on, Steve.
(H/T: Blue Oregon)
This is a good sign– having two quality candidates amicably running in Oregon, with the larger goal of unseating Smith. The conventional wisdom says that Democrats fall in love, while Republicans fall in line. I am thrilled to see that adage turned on its head these days, at both the congressional and the presidential levels.
Here's to all Dem primary candidates behaving as honorably.
Whatever happened to that Portland Microhelix CEO Ty Pettit? I believe that spelling is correct. He seemed like a bright guy who could raise money. Why did his campaign fizzle?
is he young, 30s-40s, It'd be nice to elect someone not in there fifties. Sounds like a great candidate, only depends if he can raise money. I'd written this race off, and I don't mind Smith most of the of time, but now I'm starting to feel optimistic here, and I might just drop a donation by him sometime.