[cross posted at Loaded Orygun]

Not that we didn't see this coming, but it looks like the DSCC is already unabashedly favoring Jeff Merkley over Steve Novick in the primary. They've put Merkley's picture and a blurb about his announcement on their front page flash animation and when you click through to race profile page, they have this to say:

Gordon Smith is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for re-election in 2008. Oregon Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley is one Democrat ready to hold him accountable. Voters don't trust Smith as a June Grove Insight poll notes only 37% of Oregon voters approve of his job performance. Democrats are prepared to hold his feet to the fire for his staunch support of Bush's flawed Iraq policy. The DSCC has already run ads against Gordon Smith for his votes supporting Bush's Iraq escalation plan. Voters know Smith stands with George Bush and the Republican Party. In sharp contrast, Speaker Merkley just lead one of the most effective, efficient and progressive legislative sessions in Oregon's history. Merkley pushed through landmark legislation on health care, education, energy indpendence, ethics and tax relief for working families. Speaker Merkley is in a primary race against Steve Novick.

Obviously Schumer and Co. prefer Merkley to Novick, but is this fairly blatant and public preferential treatment* a sign that they're going to jump into the primary? I hope not. I like Jeff Merkley a lot. He has, indeed, done incredible things in the Oregon legislature, and he's a terrific advocate for his constituents and for all Oregonians. But that doesn't mean Steve Novick, who announced his candidacy in April has already raised more than two hundred thousand dollars, doesn't deserve a shot. He's got better name recognition than Merkley, and is currently taking 61% in an online poll at KPOJ. (I know, unscientific, ballot stuffing, etc. Still...)

That's why I'm going to call and email the DSCC and tell them to spend their money exposing Smith for the extremist he is, not telling me who to vote for in the primary. Let Oregon's voters decide who is best to take on Smith.

* Try to find Steve's name on the DSCC website anywhere else -- seriously, do a search in the news feed for "Novick."

Newsweek published the results of another of their "Americans are all stupid and here's proof" polls on Saturday. All in all, it was a depressing reminder that most people are not as politically literate, well-informed, and critically nimble as the folks you and I know. Only 11 percent, for example, could name John Roberts as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (compared with 18 percent who could identify the most recent winner of American Idol).

But what really stuck in my craw was the following question:

CORRECT ANSWER IS IN BOLD

...

5. From what you know about the situation, do you think the United States is losing the fight against al-Qaeda or radical Islamic terrorism?

52  Yes

37  No

11  Don't know/Refused

Excuse me? Beg your pardon? Wtf?

Where, exactly, does Newsweek get off in declaring that we're winning, especially while reminding us all that the Korean War is still . . . um . . . not really over. We've been "winning" that one (or at least not losing it) for 50+ years now! Go USA!

Some time ago I registered on the Unity 08 website and created my "dream ticket". Since then, despite asking not to be kept on their list, I have received periodic updates from their "campaign".

Normally I file dispatches from this bizarre little astro-turf group of ego-tripping consultants  promptly in the wastebasket without giving them much of a look, but just last evening one arrived that caught my attention. It asked me to be the Captain of the Trailblazers!

Now I'm from Portland, so Trailblazers hold a special spot in my heart (DRAFT ODEN!), but this wasn't about basketball. No, it was about Unity 08's newest plan to engage these grassroots they've been hearing so much about:

I've been mostly on the fence with regards to the primary contenders. I like Obama's biography and his overarching campaign narrative, but John Edwards has been saying the right things. Today, in the ILWU hall in Northwest Portland, John Edwards won me over.

One of my reservations about Edwards has been that when I've seen him on TV he doesn't seem to be comfortable. He can come across as slick, a little condescending, and all around "too lawyery". But today he was none of those things. Aside from a few moments where he seemed to get tongue tied, he was personable, comfortable, and real.

More than anything, what impressed me today was his willingness to not just take a strong stand on issues (which he did a number of times), but to ask his supporters to stand with him and to build a lasting movement for good in this country and around the world.

I wrote this in the comments to Matt's Taking Options Off the Table post, and I want to expand on it a little bit (okay, a lot).

Since so much of the leftie blog chatter (and I use the term affectionately) has focused on dismantling the manufactured aura of inevitability around Hillary, I think it's interesting to read lines like this:

The people on that stage were not leaders, and except for Gravel (who isn't a credible candidate) they had very little understanding of the deep betrayal felt by the public in the last seven years.

Gravel has more experience than anyone else who was standing on that stage, especially in the area of ending an unpopular and foolish war. Yeah, he's 76 (almost 77), but is that the only reason he "isn't a credible candidate?" Don't misunderstand me: I agree with you. I just think it's important that we examine why someone like Kucinich or Gravel isn't credible. Because on the issues, I sure agree with them a lot more than anyone else on that stage.

Bumped--Chris

Peter DeFazio announced in an interview that he would not run for Senate in 2008:

"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."

Bummer. Pete would have been hands down the best Senate candidate we could ask for. That said, now is not the time for hand-wringing or woe-is-me-ing. In some ways, I'm glad DeFazio made his intentions clear, because we've already got a candidate, and a great one at that.

With DeFazio unequivocably out, Steve Novick, who announced his candidacy to a packed ILWU hall in Northwest Portland on Wednesday, should get a boost from activists who have been holding out, waiting for DeFazio to make up his mind.

This was something that was mentioned explicitly at Novick's announcement during their clever, "opt-out" fundraising and volunteer appeal -- you can wait all year for other "maybes" to make up their minds, or you can get behind the strong progressive who is already running hard and running to win.

Honestly, after hearing it a few times, I'm a little tired of the "strong left hook" line (Novick was born without a left hand, and uses his prosthetic grasping appliance for comedic advantage), but I don't think Novick will ever wear thin on me.

And he can win. You've read Jonathan Singer's interview with him and you know he's got the policy chops, but if you haven't seen him speak, you still underestimate this man. He's not a polished orator (as Portland City Commish Randy Leonard said, in contrasting Novick to Gordon Smith, "Steve Novick is not a cosmetic candidate") but his passion, brilliance, and sense of humor come accross clearly. You can't help but engage with him, he reels you in, so to speak, hook line and sinker.

And maybe money won't be as big a hurdle as some have suggested. As he and others pointed out many times on Wednesday, plenty of hardball style populists have won with huge cash disadvantages. But also, Oregon wants a progressive Senator very very badly. He's already raised almost five large on ActBlue in just a few days, and is camped out at #3 on "todays hot pages". In the wake of DeFazio's announcement, look for this to heat up even more.

[cross posted at Kos.]

Over at The Fix, Chris Cillizza moved the Oregon senate race up to number five (from six last week) on the strength of DeFazio's potential entry. Here's what he had to say:

5. Oregon: Recruiting Senate candidates is a funny business. A few weeks ago, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D) pronounced himself uninterested in a challenge to Sen. Gordon Smith (R). One poll later and DeFazio has not only opened the door a crack but is quoted attacking Smith as a "flip-flopper" in the local press. Hmmm. We don't pretend to know what DeFazio is thinking, but it sure seems like the idea of a Senate race is intriguing him more and more by the day. Democrats acknowledge that DeFazio is their preferred candidate, but believe if he doesn't run either Rep. Earl Blumenauer or state Treasurer Randall Edwards will get in. If DeFazio is the candidate, this race will almost assuredly move up the Line. (Previous ranking: 6)

I like the sound of that last sentence. So should any Oregonian (or anyone who would love to see another Wellstone progressive in the Senate!)

Over at Draft DeFazio things are starting to pick up steam.

First of all, after shattering the first fundraising goal, we're closing on our new goal -- $4,500.00 or 225 contributors by this Saturday, April 14th. I think that date is particularly appropriate, as it aligns with Step It Up, the national global warming day of action. Considering Pete's consistent and vocal support of global warming solutions, from renewables, to fuel efficiency standards, to emissions caps, it makes a lot of sense to help meet this goal as part of "Stepping It Up."

Remember, at this point it's all about showing our support; even a small contribution sends a message to Pete that we need him, and a message to Gordon that we're going to beat him. So give $5.00 or $10.00 if that's all you can do, but do send that message.