Document text
http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Hottest Galleries: October 6, 2007 Oregon campaign fundraising race is on By Julia Silverman The Associated Press PORTLAND — Democrat Jeff Merkley has raised about $300,000 in his bid to dethrone Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, a pace that puts him nearly on track with Smith's own month-by-month fundraising. But first, Merkley will have to get past Democratic lawyer and activist Steve Novick, who is challenging him for their party's nomination. Novick's campaign on Friday said it had raised $125,000 since June 30, much of it through the Internet. The two Democratic campaigns have nearly identical amounts of cash going into the last seven months before the primary: $218,000 for Merkley, $215,000 for Novick. Merkley formally began raising money in mid-August; Novick has been campaigning and fundraising since the spring. Both campaigns sounded pleased with their totals, but neither has a war chest that begins to approach Smith's. As of June 30, Smith's campaign said it had $3.5 million on hand — and there's no primary opponent in sight to force Smith to dip into that stash. The Smith campaign's fundraising totals for the quarter beginning July 1 and ending Sept. 30 were not available Friday. A spokesman said the campaign hopes to release figures next week. Merkley's campaign said that nearly all of its total, about $240,000, came in after Labor Day, coinciding with the candidate's kickoff tour of the state. It reported raising $60,444 from 458 online donors, the "netroots" who have emerged as a force in Democratic politics. Novick has found a niche among the netroots, playing off his image as the upstart, outsider candidate in the race. Campaign Manager Jake Weigler said $177,000 of Novick's total since the spring came through Internet contributions. "We think the netroots are a critical equalizer in this campaign," Weigler said. "It allows grass roots and individual supporters to band together to make their voices heard." Weigler said Novick will try to raise $1 million to $1.5 million before the May primary. Political observers have said the 2008 Senate race could be the most expensive campaign in Oregon history as national organizations like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pour money into the race. The June-September fundraising period is traditionally slow. Raising money in the vacation season is difficult, the general election is more than a year away, and the candidates are competing for dollars with the presidential candidates. Democrats in states where GOP incumbent senators are considered vulnerable have been raising cash furiously. Comedian-turned-candidate Al Franken, challenging Minnesota Republican Norm Coleman, reported raising $1.89 million since June 30, for example, while Coleman brought in $1.7 million. Smith is considered among the GOP's most vulnerable senators, especially since Oregon has been trending Democratic. In recent weeks, Smith has sided with Democrats on a variety of issues, including an expansion of federal funding for the state Children's Health Insurance Program. He co-sponsored legislation with Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy that would allow the federal government to help states prosecute attacks on homosexuals. His office even sent out a press release touting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's kind words about Smith in a recent interview with Newsweek magazine, though Clinton's politics are disliked among die-hard Republicans. Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us