Forward Oregon

The first major paper to endorse a candidate in the Democratic Senate primary joined the likes of the AFL-CIO, SEIU, the Sierra Club, Basic Rights Oregon, and Planned Parenthood in Jeff Merkley’s corner.  The Eugene Register Guard penned a glowing endorsement of Merkley based on his leadership in the legislature and his ability to become an outstanding US Senator:

A more important question is which candidate can best serve Oregon’s and the nation’s interests in Washington, D.C. Jeff Merkley isn’t the jazziest campaigner of the six Democrats on the May 20 ballot, but he is by far the best prepared. Democratic voters should nominate him…

It’s telling that of the 31 members of the House Democratic caucus, all are supporting Merkley. They have nothing to fear from him, because he can’t run for re-election to the Legislature while pursuing a U.S. Senate seat. Merkley imposed tight discipline to keep his slender majority united and treated Republicans fairly in such matters as committee representation — and did it without making enemies of any of his Democratic colleagues. A more convincing demonstration of leadership would be hard to find, and it’s a type of leadership badly needed in hyper-partisan national politics.

In most elections for high profile positions like President or Senate newspaper endorsements, while always welcome, generally are over rated as a means of voter persuasion.  This election is an exception.  Coverage of the Senate race has not been as extensive this year, often being overshadowed by a presidential primary that has lasted longer than any primary in recent memory.  Thus, for everyone except politicos deeply embroiled in the race, this election profiles more like a down ballot race.  In down ballot or races with lower amounts of information available to voters such as the Senate primary, voters look to trusted sources of information such as the voters pamphlets or newspaper endorsements.

The Eugene Register Guard is the state’s second largest newspaper and should have some sway over an area that is generally progressive leaning.  Furthermore, the Register Guard clearly delineates the positioning of the candidates, with Merkley the adept legislator and leader ready to take on the challenge of US Senator, Novick a feisty candidate but lacking the experience and the campaign infrastructure to take on Smith, and Candy Neville the passionate antiwar activist.  By doing so, the Register Guard positions Neville and Novick as inexperienced candidates that will split the protest vote in Neville’s home base of Eugene.

The Register Guard clearly thought that Speaker Jeff Merkley was far and away the best candidate for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate, and envisions Merkley’s race with Smith one of the best in the country.  In an election with low information, newspapers are a trusted source of advice for voters, and the second largest newspaper got behind Jeff Merkley.