Forward Oregon

Gordon Smith decided to wade into the Oregon Democratic Senate Primary, yesterday, launching an ad attacking Oregon Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley. Some questioned Smiths motives, speculating why Smith would go after Merkley but speculation is no longer needed.  A new Rassmussen poll tells us all we need to know. Jeff Merkley is the best Democratic candidate to take on Smith, and despite a contested primary Merkley is statistically tied with Smith in a general election match up. That is why Gordon Smith is going after Jeff Merkley, because he is trying get Steve Novick to do his dirty work, dispatching Smith’s strongest opponent in the primary.

Rassmussen’s polling coupled with SUSA’s earlier polling, paints a clear picture of the Oregon Senate race. The polling shows that early in the race both the Democratic primary and general election match ups were muddled by a lack of name identification. That was before Merkley had made any advertising buys. Now, Jeff Merkley is surging in the polls as voters learn about who he is, his accomplishments in the legislature, and his vision for Oregon and our nation. Voters are clearly responding to his message, with a 17 point improvement in the Survey USA primary poll in just three weeks, and gaining 15 points against Smith since February.

Jeff Merkley is getting the kind of traction that Gordon Smith fears. Smith has been cultivating his nice guy moderate image farce for years and will be able to brush attack dog Steve Novick, whose penchant making “undiplomatic” statements has already gotten him in trouble, out of the way with ease. So Smith, by hand picking Novick as his opponent, is trying to use Novick to do Smith’s most difficult task, defeating Jeff Merkley. There is no other compelling explanation to why Smith would go after Merkley and only Merkley in a Democratic primary.

Jeff Merkley will beat Gordon Smith. He is a fantastic legislator that has methodically passed good progressive legislation while Speaker, and even when he was in the minority. Merkley has a way of framing progressive values as shared values, that Smith won’t be able to undermine with attack ads.  Merkley has also created a broad coalition of both local grassroots activists and national groups to take on Smith.  Jeff Merkley is what Smith fears.

We cannot let Gordon Smith’s attacks on Democrats in a primary allow him to hand pick a weak opponent. As Oregon Democrats lets do our job before May 20th to make sure Gordon Smith trembles in fear for the next six months by nominating Jeff Merkley.

On why he’s different than Gordan Smith and his positions on issues that matter to Oregonians in the current economic slump.

Impressed? Help us raise $5K today:
http://www.actblue.com/page/mayday4merkley

Wow.

This morning got an amazing opportunity to sit next to Senator Max Cleland over breakfast, and it was amazing. Senator Cleland was in town to campaign with Democratic Senate candidate and Speaker of the Oregon House, Jeff Merkley, and did a breakfast with winners of a silent auction from the previous night. I was lucky enough to be invited when a fellow blogger won and his wife declined the early morning meal.

Senator Cleland, even more so than his reputation, is a dynamic and charismatic man. He spoke fondly of Jeff Merkley, saying that he brings the right kind of experience to job. Senator Cleland talked about how Merkley’s experience as an national security analyst in the Defense Department and for Congress would allow Merkley to “differentiate between real and manufactured threats.” Senator Cleland said that on issues of war and piece “it is hard to find candidates that get it, and Jeff Merkley gets it.”

Senator Cleland also talked about Merkley’s experience in the legislature. Cleland said that there was a saying in Georgia “many a innocent men was sent to the Georgia legislature.” Cleland talked about how being a State Representative or State Senator as he was allows you to connect with the people you serve and prepares you for the US Senate in an irreplaceable way. Then the former Senator from Georgia talked about how Merkley came to be Speaker after leading a band of progressives to wrest control from Republicans in the State House.

After Senator Cleland’s passionate remarks on behalf of Speaker Merkley, I was able become a sponge and soak up Cleland’s wisdom on a variety of subjects from stories of his experience in Vietnam, to the current quagmire in Iraq, to the failure of George Bush to capture Osama bin Laden and defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. I got to ask about a subject Cleland, a former head of the VA has a lot of knowledge about, knows a lot: brain injuries with our veterans. Cleland commended the work of Senator Patty Murray and then launched into a diatribe about the VA’s failures to address the issue, even returning money earmarked for the treatment of brain injuries, that was quite impressive. He said that only a change in the administration and the culture of the VA to focus on these devastating and undiagnosed combat injuries will solve the problem. Both Democrats, he said, will get the job done.

But in order for a Democratic President to be effective, Senator Cleland said, we need more Democrats in the Senate. Senator Max Cleland made it clear that Jeff Merkley is a uniquely qualified leader to beat Gordon Smith and serve Oregon in the United States Senate.

For such a great candidate, several bloggers are doing a fundraiser trying to raise $5k tomorrow May 1st.

Get ready for it!

The story about Novick’s less-than-flattering response to blogs during the Willamette Weekly endorsement interview has already been discussed at mydd and openleft, but I think his disregard for the netroots is evidence of something greater. Novick’s priorities are not aligned with what is best for Oregon.

Both of the above blogs discuss the content of Novick’s comments, which include him calling blogs “a way for a number of people to waste a vast quantity of time”. This not only undermines the valid space that blogs inhabit within the larger political discourse, but it is reckless for someone who considers themselves the ‘progressive’ candidate to display such blatant disrespect to their netroots base. As discussed other places, he has insulted bloggers and their utility in the overall netroots aspect of campaigns.

Here is the video if you haven’t seen it yet:

What is the most important facet of Novick’s performance at the Willamette Week interviews is that he states that would vote for Frohnmeyer over Merkley in the primary if he could not vote for himself.

Here is the awkward video that captures this stumbling moment for Novick:

This portrays that for Novick this race is not about beating Gordan Smith, as it is for Merkley, who immediately stated that he would vote for Novick if he was not running — because he is the only other viable candidate in this race (based on name recognition, fundraising numbers, etc). Novick does not seem to have the best interests of democrats in mind. In the same interview Novick gives Merkley an A-/B+ for his legislative sessions (and would have given him an A except he cited a lack of progress made on Measure 11, which is total baloney because Merkley testified about it in front of Chip Shield’s committee) and then claims that he isn’t someone he would vote for.

Instead his candidate of choice is former-republican-current-independent Frohnmeyer.

Regardless, an A-/B+ is a fantastic rating for a legislative session and displays Merkley’s capability as a leader within the House to work with a slim majority to enact change. It is undeniable that Merkley has the experience to work with a divided Congress to accomplish progressive goals.

Based on his vote for Frohnmeyer, the only plausible conclusion is that Novick doesn’t seem to want to send the best Senator possible to D.C.

Something that many hard core supporters (especially bloggers) both candidates in the US Senate primary in Oregon often forget is that a huge chunk of voters are not aware of either Democratic Senate candidate.  With such low name ID on the ticket, both the ground game and television will be hugely important, as candidates still have to introduce themselves to voters.  Jeff Merkley’s first TV ad is about to hit the airwaves, introducing him as a reformer, a fighter, someone who leads, and someone who gets things done:

My favorite story about Jeff Merkley fighting for what matters was his unrelenting pursuit of equality for LGBT families in the legislature.  In 2005 when Merkley and the Democrats were in the minority. Karen Minnis use an underhanded rule change to keep Merkley from bringing a Civil Unions bill to the floor and passing it less than a year after the state banned gay marriage. Merkley wouldn’t take Minnis’ flack and refused to stop questioning the rule change despite being gaveled down and ruled out of order by Minnis. Karen Minnis then cut off his mic on the House floor and threatened to have state troopers remove him. But Merkley kept right on fighting and in 2007 won passage of historic legislation for basic rights and domestic partnerships.

Thats the kind of fighter I want in the United States Senate, one that knows how to fight, when to fight, and doesn’t give up. That is why I am proud to support Jeff Merkley.

The Governor hotel’s wireless was was buggy preventing me from live blogging the debate, but that didn’t prevent Jeff Merkley putting on a dynamic and commanding performance that left Novick scrambling to explain his caustic style and attacks against the character of prominent progressives.

From the moment the debate started, with Jeff Merkley rolling out the endorsement of Basic Rights Oregon, the most important LGBTQ civil rights group in the state, Merkley had the upper hand and Novick was on the defensive. There were no significant policy differences but the main thrust of the debate centered around which candidates style of leadership would best be suited for getting progressive results as a United States Senator.

That ground was extremely fruitful for Speaker Merkley. Novick came out swinging blindly, attacking Merkley for a poll testing messaging against Novick, but Novick was forced to admit that he had put a similar poll in the field just a few weeks earlier. Novick’s negativity immediately out of the gate, a style that he has employed throughout the campaign, would be prove to be a huge blunder as during the question and answer section Novick was on the defensive trying to explain attacks on progressives. Novick was asked whether he stood by his his smear that Senator Obama was just a “captive-of-special-interests fraud who doesn’t really care about global warming and doesn’t deserve to be hailed as some great Kenya-Kansas hope?” Novick fumbled his response, claiming that it was an issue based criticism. When asked to defend insulting Hillary Clinton calling her a traitress and a coward, he said that his comments were undiplomatic but stood by them. Merkley followed by saying “I keep trying to see you going up to President Obama, I’m sorry I called you a fraud but could you help me get county payments passed? Or President Clinton, I’m sorry I called you a traitress and a coward but could you help me expand the Mount Hood Wilderness area?.” It was an absolutely devastating line of questioning.

It only got worse for Novick when Merkley pulled the humor club out of his bag asking Novick about his anti U2 singer and activist Bono remarks. Merkley’s question earned big laughs and Novick took the bait hook line and sinker, viciously attacking the antipoverty and anti AIDS activist, saying that he would vote for Smith over Bono. If the other questions didn’t fully convince viewers about Novick’s attack first mentality, Novick’s inability to laugh this off or even responded amicably to this question should put the nail in the coffin.

Merkley presented plenty of contrast citing example after example of how he had worked with legislators to focus on results rather than insults. Merkley talked about his ability to forge coalitions to get things done and how important relationships are in a legislative body like the United States Senate. Merkley was able to connect his type of politics with the great historical shift that we are currently experiencing right now the new politics of Senator Obama that have inspired thousands of Oregonians to register to vote and get involved in politics.

Merkley overwhelmingly won in front of one of the most influential audiences of the state, the Portland City Club. The debate will get more exposure than just the opinion leaders of the City Club, as the debate will be aired all over the state on Oregon Public Broadcasting. Merkley was able to successfully indict Novick’s caustic and nasty style of politics while staying above the fray. Merkley, in front of the biggest audience of the campaign, carried the day as the only candidate to persuasively make his case that he has the experience and the temperament to be a dynamic and successful United States Senator.

UPDATE: City Club posted the audio listen and decide for yourself!

Today, I am at the Portland City Club for the third Democratic US Senate Primary debate.  This debate is the first to only include the viable candidates, Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley and political consultant Steve Novick.

The wireless failed me, please see my debate wrap up here

I’m so excited! And so should you be because next Friday, April 11th at 4:30 p.m., U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley will be at the Lucky Lab located at 1945 NW Quimby in Portland discussing the environment and having a beer. This is an excellent way to celebrate Earth Month — with someone who has fought tirelessly for the environment in the Oregon Legislature, enacting many substantial and progressive environmental laws. A few remarkable examples include: increasing the fees that big air polluters face (to help discourage polluting in the first place), creating new recycling programs for water bottles, computers and televisions, protecting our beach estuaries, insisting that by 2025 25% of Oregon’s energy be renewable, and demanding that our greenhouse gas emissions decrease significantly; to be 75% lower than the 1990 emission rate by 2050. If you think that list is impressive, you should come meet Merkley!

Here is the clever video invite for the Green Collar Happy Hour:

I’m definitely attending, I hope to see you there!

Steve Novick got his biggest endorsement thus far in the election, anti-tax activist, signature and ballot measure guru, racketeer Bill Sizemore.   In his ringing endorsement published in Willamette Week, Sizemore made sure to highlight Novick’s negativity that has permeated the Democratic campaign:

If I was a Democrat, [Novick]’s probably who I’d vote for….

Steve is acerbic. He can be very nasty….

Attacking is almost a reflex with him…

Clearly, it takes one to know one.  Sizemore’s endorsement really has little potential to bring Democratic voters into Novick’s camp, but it does show an interesting comparison.  Becky Miller, the former Sizemore employee whose decision to turn state’s evidence led to Sizemor’s conviction, examined the many similarities between Novick and Sizemore, the two ballot meausure political consultants turned candidates over at Preemptive Karma, which is a must read.

Today is the last day of the first fundraising quarter of 2008, which means that it is also the last reporting period before Oregon’s primary election.  Donating today is the best way to leverage your donation to help Jeff Merkley beat Gordon Smith this fall.  Just ask Senator Max Cleland who knows a thing or two about serving your country and taking on the Republican attack machine:

I’ve spent my entire lifetime fighting for this country. As an officer in the Vietnam War, I sacrificed just as our men and women in the Armed Forces do every day. When I returned from Vietnam in the late 1960s our nation was torn apart and I was compelled to act.

I dedicated my life to public service – working in the U.S. Senate to advocate for my fellow veterans, to fight for affordable health care, and to create good jobs for families.

Six years ago George Bush, Dick Cheney and the national Republican Party teamed up with special interests to lie about my record and distort my lifetime of service.

This is the Karl Rove playbook. When Democrats stand up to deliver change, Republicans and special interests spread falsehoods and lies to defeat them. I am disappointed to see the same thing happening in Oregon.

Jeff Merkley is the right man for the U.S. Senate. He has dedicated his life to serving his country and fighting for hardworking families just like his own family. He opposed the Iraq War from the very start and will bring our sons and daughters home immediately.

Now Gordon Smith and the national Republican Party are attacking Jeff’s character and misleading voters about his plans to change Washington D.C. for the better.

Republicans like Gordon Smith will stop at nothing to win.

We must help Jeff defeat the Republican attack machine once and for all.

Sincerely,

Senator Max Cleland

Here at Forward Oregon, we are joining Senator Cleland in trying to get Jeff Merkley elected with our own Actblue Page.  We are more than half way to our $300 end of the quarter goal so head over to Actblue and give to Jeff Merkley.  You’re not going to find a more deserving candidate, so give him so help, so he can help us in the US Senate!