From The Oregonian:
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said in an interview today that he has decided not to challenge Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.DeFazio had been the top choice of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, after a DSCC-commissioned poll showed him ahead of Smith. But the 11-term Congressman chairs a powerful House Transportation subcommittee responsible for doling out hundreds of billions of dollars of highway funding.
[…]
“I just did not feel that becoming a junior member of the Senate was going to allow me to serve as well and as effectively, particularly in the short term, as my current position,” DeFazio said.
“This was not an easy decision,” DeFazio said. “You don’t get a poll that shows you’re ahead of an incumbent senator and generous offers of support from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and just blow it off. It was a long and serious deliberation on my part.”
With the only Democratic names in the race being businessman Ty Pettit and attorney Steve Novick, all eyes now turn to 3rd District Rep. Earl Blumenauer. Sources tell me that Blumenauer will likely pursue the nomination, but we’ll have to wait and see.
(Hat-tip to hubbird.)
Race Tracker: OR-Sen
Blumenauer is great, but he does not seem motivated. I also have concerns about his insufficient level of aggression for a campaign like this.
Steve Novick is one of the smartest people I know, obsessively well informed about Smith’s record and his many weaknesses, funnier than hell, and fearless. He will take it to Smith HARD, and that’s what we need.
my $0.02
Smith’s vulnerablity is due to the fact he represents a Blue state and has a right of center ideology.
Smith is more in line with Mike DeWine or John Ensign.
DeWine’s loss in 2006 had to do with The scandals involving the Ohio Republican party. (Bush/Taft/Ney) and Iraq.
The Oregon GOP Party is not unpopular/scandal plagued like Ohio. Smith is not in a similar situation as DeWine.
He is also not in a similar situation as Chafee. Oregon is Democratic than Rhode Island.
Smith is not as controversial or conservative as Santorum,Burns or Allen.
with regards to unseating Smith.
A 800 lb gorilla like ex Governor Kitzhaber can make the 2008 Oregon US Senate Race a tossup or a Democratic Pickup.
Kitzhaber does not like the DC environment.
With regards to DeFazio,Bluemenuer,Novick,and Westlund.
DeFazio could have defeated Smith in 1996 when it was open seat. 2002 was difficult- Pro GOP year Bush was popular. (Only Kitzahaber could have unseated Smith). DeFazio could only unseat Smith if Smith were in a similar situation as Mike DeWine. DeFazio is less interested in running for the US Senate.
Bluemenaur will run for the US Senate- if polls show that Smith is vulnerable and the DSCC funds his campaign.
Another thing that could entice Bluemenaur in the Senate Race is if Bluemenaur thinks the US Senate needs more progressive members. A Bluemenaur victory is suprising but doable.
Novick’s is similar to Paul Wellstone/paul hackett- Shocking the establishment.
Westlund is a draft candidate if Bluemenaur passes the race. due to the DSCC fear Novick may be unelectable.
Westlund can be a James Webb. Westlund is a former Republican turned Independent turned Democrat from Salem. he can cut into Smith’s political base.