WE HAVE A CANDIDATE IN OREGON! BLUE AMERICA WELCOMES JEFF MERKLEY

A few weeks ago Blue America looked at the Democratic primary for the Senate seat in Oregon and endorsed both candidates, Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick. Each looked like absolutely excellent progressive leader who would be an incredible step up from Bush rubber stamp and faux moderate Gordon Smith. Tuesday, Oregon voters also liked both but gave Jeff a three percentage point win, 237,258 (45%) to 221,402 (42%). In his spirited concession speech Steve Novick graciously endorsed Jeff and promised to work hard to help him win the seat. "He's going to be a great United States senator, and we're going to help him." Blue America had promised to invite whichever of the two contenders who was chosen by Oregon voters over to FDL to meet our community and Jeff has taken some time out of his busy schedule today to do just that (6PM, Pacific Time).

Jeff has been an outstanding Speaker of the House in Oregon, which is why there has been so much enthusiasm for him. He comes from humble rural Oregon origins and was the first in his family to go to college. He worked as a national security analyst for the Pentagon and later for Congress before he and his wife Mary returned to Oregon. He led Habitat for Humanity and worked to help families work their way into the middle class by purchasing a home, starting a business, or saving for college. 

One of the reasons we are so enthusiastic about him-- despite his being the choice of Chuck Schumer and the Democratic insiders-- is that Jeff has vowed to take on the special interests, like the big insurance companies and big drug companies who underwrite Schumer's power. Jeff has always fought for ordinary Oregonian families and everything in his record points to him continuing to do that in Washington. He understands the difference between so-called "free" trade and fair trade and will stand up to the big corporate interests pushing mindless bottom-line globalization. He's a vocal supporter of closing tax loopholes for corporations that ship jobs overseas. He opposes the occupation of Iraq and has endorsed the Responsible Plan to End the War.

It was apparent that Smith feared running against Jeff. He spent half a million dollars smearing his record in rural Oregon, hoping to help knock him out in the primary. It didn't work and now Smith is going to have to face his worst fear. Jeff has every intention of exposing and shattering the "Smith Myth" and make sure that every Oregonian sees the real Gordon Smith rubber stamp record which is neither moderate, independent nor bipartisan. On substantive issues Gordon Smith votes with Bush and Cheney 90% of the time and against Ron Wyden 95% of the time. If you'd like to volunteer for Jeff's campaign or donate to it or just find out more about the issues that are driving him, his website is a great resource. You might also want to take a look at Jeff's 30 second TV spot: