This would fit more in an open thread. But

Hat tip to kieran at Senateguru.com

http://www.rasmussenreports.co...

Landreiu 55%
Kennedy  39%

Favorables:
Landreiu 65/32
Kennedy  51/42

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 18:02:35 PM CDT

love the...

Fave/Unfave rating for Landrieu.  Let's hope she can keep those numbers up...

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by: blueandwhite31 @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 18:17:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

OMG!!!

That's effen amazing! Landrieu is up 16% on Kennedy and her favorable/unfavorable gap is 33% while Kennedy's is only 9%? I'm somewhat at a loss at these numbers. Given her cash advantage, incumbency, along with those favorables and the match-up, this isn't a toss-up. Hell, it's hardly a Leans, it's more like a Likely!

Anyhow, I feel better about this race a lil bit and definitely think that Landrieu has the advantage, versus a toss-up.

KELL

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by: ryanlkelly @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 18:31:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Novick said he'd support Merkley

Isn't it a little bit distortive to omit that he hesitated to name as most qualified, a progressive who wants to attack his opponent for being a pro-tax socialist? The Sunday Oregonian calls those attacks hypocritical from Merkley today, given his full support for tax increases in his record. And I think it's even worse to omit here that he said he would support Merkley anyway if he were the nominee. Leaving that out tells me this is more of an attack piece on Novick than an attempt to report any events or news.

It's really hard to question Novick's loyalty when he was the ONLY one with the guts to take on SMith, as literally 7 candidates the Democrats tried to entice failed to bite. Merkley was number 8. On top of that, he said he'd drop out if DeFazio or Blumenauer ran. They opted out, and having almost literally written the book on how to defeat Smith, he did what he thought had to be done--get rid of Gordon.

I see a lot of character attacks from Merkley now that he's behind, but never any distinctions of substance.

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by: torridjoe @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 16:02:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Substance

You want substance, you got it:

Jeff Merkley opposes the death penalty. Period.  Steve Novick supports it.

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by: jackmurray @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 21:58:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Disappointing.

I was a huge fan of Steve Novick but this really, really isn't good.

I would now be surprised if Novick breaks 25 percent.

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by: Populista @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 19:15:32 PM CDT

a lost opportunity

I hope Merkeley can win the primary.  But he's still gas to get the Novick voters in November.

What a gaffe.

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by: mikeel @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 19:48:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Merkley is a great candidate

Merkley's got a really long and solid history of being a progressive champion in the state legislature. Hes for gay marriage, ending the war, expanding workers rights, protecting our environment from global warming.  Merkley's been endorsed by Basic Rights Oregon, the AFl-CIO, SEIU, the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, and a cadre of other amazingly progressive organizations.  Merkley would easily be on of the top 5 most progressive Senators and he has an amazing talent for getting progressive policies passed with the slimmest of margins, which he showed time and time again at as Speaker of the Oregon House.  Merkley is all about bring people together in the spirit of Obama's new politics and I am really proud to support him.

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by: bdunn @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 19:47:49 PM CDT

Novick also called blogging "a way for a number of people to waste a vast amount of time."

Check out the Guru's blog at http://www.senateguru.com/

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by: Senate Guru @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 20:25:04 PM CDT

When you listen to it, it doesn't come off as bad as the quote

Still a tad snarky though.  

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 20:32:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Curious, though...

...that Novick would chide one of his key constituencies -- bloggers -- in such a way.

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by: James L. @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 20:35:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

When I originally thought about it, my first conclusion

was that somehow, he must not see it that way.  Either he thinks a lot of his support just comes from Oregonians.  

That, or he was trying to play it off as funny, a little political, to insinuate that his support doesn't come from the online liberal elite... Or.. Whatever.  Come off as more of an Oregonian than Jeff.  

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 21:47:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

i kinda like his cute ads

but some of his quotes are absolutely moronic.  i understand him being frustrated at the way pundits and party leaders have ignored him, but come on! at least be a professional if you can't be senatorial.

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by: st paul sage @ Sat Apr 12, 2008 at 21:55:21 PM CDT

Merkley attack scores

I re-registered from Pacific Green to Democrat a few months ago, just to be able to vote for Novick. Now, I'm stoked to vote for progresses up and down the ticket.

I too, would vote for Frohnmayer over Merkley. I am so disappointed in the Democratic class of 2006, the last thing I want to do is send back more of the same.

Why are we still in Iraq? Why is Bush still in office? Spineless Dems... And Speaker Merkley fits the mold.

I share Novick's POV. Novick's opponent has a small cadre of attack bloggers, some of whom have created blogs for the sole purpose of slagging Steve. I see some of them have already swarmed over here. Hi, Brad... Is Kevin coming soon?

Merkley did some push polling and along the way and discovered which attacks push people buttons.

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by: EastbankThom @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 11:14:50 AM CDT

ummm....

sorry to burst a bubble, but public support wasn't in any of those, and that's the point of "elected" officials, to represent the views of the public combined with their own knowledge, to run the country, not to pander to the interest of each parties extremes, like Republicans to my infuriation did for twelve years with no media repurcussion, while Democrats stick the middle of the road of their party and general public opinion, and still get pounded for it, still have their actions misrepresented and demonized, but that is another story.

One, Iraq, Bush is President, we can't change that. We could move to impeach, committ political suicide, and then in the Senate the 48 Republicans would vote Nay, and some conservative Democrats like Landrieu, and the Nelsons. It's delusional to think that such a proposal would even get a 51 majority, much less a two thirds majoirty. It would be a pointless act, and it the party in the eyes of the public, like the REpublicans impeachment of Clinton in 1998, and it would set back the overall goals of the progressive movement significantly, and give conservatives more steam when they have little.

Back to Iraq, Bush would have refused to let them leave. We could have cut off funding, and Bush would have declared all-out public war on the Democrats, leaving the soldiers to rot in Iraq with no funds, so no food or support or ammo or supplies or even pay, until public opinion forced Democrats to fund the troops again, leaving the Democrats looking bad, and so partisan that they couldn't work together to fund the troops. There was no withdrawing, it's that simple. It was have the troops over their with supplies and pay, or have them their with nothing. The latter would have cost a lot more lives and been devestating to what the parties goals are, what it wants to do.

I also can't think of what your problem with 2006 class, we have some of our best senators in their. Sherrod Brown, who is Howard Metzenbaum reborn, Jim Webb, Jon Tester, Sheldon Whitehouse, all of them are completely anti-war, good on the environment, and rabidly populist and fairly liberal.  

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

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by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 17:24:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here's a clue... [catch]

We're still occupying Iraq (at a cost of $12 Billion/month). Last I checked, the Democrats held the purse strings in Congress.

P.S. Why hasn't Bush been impeached yet?  

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by: EastbankThom @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 22:51:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Are you kidding?

Did you respond to his post without reading it?

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 23:33:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I completely agree

we have one of the best classes of freshman senators since perhaps 1992...

You left out McCaskill who, although a bit more moderate than the others you listed, is a political powerhouse in the Senate and probably will able to hold onto that seat for another 2-3 terms for us.  Thanks to her, the MO Dem Party has life again...

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by: CarnahanDemocrat @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 19:28:58 PM CDT

Disappointed

Although I support Jeff Merkley for the nomination to run against Gordon Smith, I am disappointed to read that Steve Novick is inclined to back John Frohnmayer instead of the Dem nominee (if it's not him).

Here in Oregon, we have an uphill battle to defeat Gordon Smith.  It's going to take everything we've got.  And we'll need to close ranks oh so quickly in order to mount a good campaign.

Jeff Merkley has said that he'd back Novick in a heartbeat if he's the nominee.  Steve Novick apparently 'has a hard time answering that question' if he can't support Frohnmayer.  So, I guess he'll hold his nose and say he'll support the eventual nominee.

But after all of that trouble, it makes he think he's only doing it to save face in the primary election.  

Novick's been saying a lot of things that he's wanted to take back over the last few weeks.  We don't have the time or room for error to allow for that kind of campaigning in the general election.

We've got to everything we can to beat Smith.  And only a Democrat can do it.

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by: jackmurray @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 21:54:33 PM CDT

but...

...they gotta stop handing free ammunition to the Gordon Smith attack machine.  Both are at fault here, one quite spectacularly, one more cautiously.

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by: JimM @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 23:19:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

if Novick is the nominee, maybe there's no Frohnmayer

Frohnmayer likes Novick. It's been suggested that if he'll drop out for anyone, it's Novick. That makes sense, given Novick's status as the somewhat more progressive candidate than Merkley. Really, a Novick win is preferable because it increases the likelihood the Dem has a clear shot at Smith. With Merkley, it's more likely Frohnmayer will stay in the race, as I see it, and as I've seen said elsewhere by people who know him.  

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by: torridjoe @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 00:08:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

How does that make a difference?

I don't think Frohnmayer was going to be that big of a factor to where we bow down to his will.  And if he's trying to influence the Democratic primary based on what he plans to do, that comes off as rather self-righteous.  

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 00:14:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

no, novick would vote for merkley

Novick: I was saying that- I am in the race- I was saying, if- I was interpreting it as what is my preference.  If, what's- I will vote for the Democratic nominee.  But if I could vote for the person I think is best qualified other than myself, I would vote for John Frohnmayer.  But, after the nomination is determined, I will vote for the Democratic nominee.

how much clearer can he be? it is sad to see the swing state project join the chorus of merkley smear blogs (lead by blue oregon and connected to this site by senate guru).

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by: petrichor @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 22:40:58 PM CDT

If you watch the video, it takes him awhile to get around

to this idea of supporting Merkley.  

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 22:45:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ridiculous to question Novick's loyalty

Here's a guy who's worked for Democrats his entire political career--for the sitting Governor, for the state Senate Democrats, for a Democratic Senate candidate. He laid out the plan to beat Smith, then got in the race when the first 7 choices the DSCC tried said no. And then when number 8--Merkley--got into the race at the behest of Chuck Schumer, Steve welcomed him and suggested they appear together and take on Smith with both barrels. Merkley decided he didn't need Novick, and blew him off. He refused to agree to debates all other active candidates agreed to, and refused to make any kind of case for winning the primary.

Novick has put himself on the line for Democrats, so that they can beat Smith. He did it when no one else wanted to take on Smith's slick persona, moderate image and huge warchest, because he knew his kind of candidacy--unconventional, straight talking, not the same old politics--would best fit the profile of someone who could beat Smith.

Novick has committed to supporting the Democratic nominee, as if there was a chance he wouldn't. To suggest otherwise, in the face of the record but also his political history, is a little absurd. And maybe Merkley should have thought of earning Novick's support before he sought to attack another Democrat for being a pro tax communist.

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by: torridjoe @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 00:05:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

it isn't very absurd if you watch the video.

Again, it takes Novick awhile to get to the idea of supporting Merkley, like he had to get cornered into that response by the questioner before he would say it.  

Really?  Merkley called Novick a communist?  

I don't think being the first one to announce entitles you to this "He was the only one who was willing to take on Smith.." Jargon.  Especially when you consider how Merkley was busy running the state house.  Just because he wasn't the first one to announce doesn't mean Merkley wasn't willing to take on Smith, etc.  

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 00:21:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

exactly

also a lot of what torridjoe says is not accurate.

There have already been four debates and tomorrow is the fifth. Merkley hasn't blown off the debates.

Merkley never called Novick a communist, though Novick did have a roll call article written about the fact that Novick passed around business cards with a sickle and hammer on them.

and watch the video.  Novick doesn't even give the answer that he will support the Democratic nominee until after the editors ask him if it was another in a long line of examples where Novick's attack Democrats first attitude could be seen and in line with his past support of Ralph Nader.  Only the did Novick belatedly come to the realization that if he didn't say what he said he would be in even more trouble than he is now.

Plus in order to vote for Frohnmayer in the primary Novick would have to quit the Democratic Party because we have a closed primary.  It sounds like a big FU to Democrats to me.

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by: bdunn @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 18:43:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Frohnmayer is not running in any primary

BDunn is incorrect.  John Frohnmayer is not running in any primary.  In Oregon, only the two major parties are allowed to have a primary.  JF is seeking the nomination of the Independent Party of Oregon (www.indparty.com), which can decide to put him on the general election ballot anytime between June 56 and Augut 26, 2008.

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by: danmeek @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 20:06:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Correction

... between June 6 and August 26, 2008.

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by: danmeek @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 20:07:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

i appreciate petrichor posting the quote

"But if I could vote for the person I think is best qualified other than myself, I would vote for John Frohnmayer."  

The he snuffles unenthusiasticlly that he would vote for the "Democratic nominee."  Come on!  You're a democrat, you wish to be a leader of the state democratic party and you think a republican who was the chair of the NEA in the 80s is best qualified for the US Senate.  that's laughable - as well as a slap in the face to the other democratic candidates and all the people who will be working hard to elect a democratic alternative to Gordon Smith.

trashing fellow democrats makes Novick an ineffective candidate and an ineffective senator.

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by: st paul sage @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 at 12:08:51 PM CDT