I support Steve Novick!
We should not have to beg candidates to run. If Earl or Peter really wanted to run they would have already sign on.
Think Paul Wellstone

I will support Steve Novick until such time as there is another candidate. I'm not sure Steve is our best possible candidate, but he does have one advantage clearly in his favor.

He's actually applied for the job.

I support Steve, too. I have to say, Moses, it's kind of disappointing to hear you call Steve's campaign a "default" to Smith.

Er, Ditto......and all that.

Steve's in.

Earl ain't.

Both have their pluses and minuses. Two urban progressives with slightly different focus on the issues. Their chances of knocking off Smith statewide are similar and either faces a big job in getting the exurbs and rural areas on board.

Steve's in.

Earl ain't.

"LOL" said it best....stay in your district, besides can you honestly see Earl pulling rural counties, Eastern Oregon, Roseburg, Medford ?

As I recall, Blumenauer was a principle in "Democrats for Hatfield". If Hatfield returns the favor, it could make things a little more interesting outside of PDX, Corvallis, Eugene, and Bend should he enter the race.

I can't speak for other rural/exurban areas, but I think that any Democrat who runs on a progressive economic platform rather than focusing on socially divisive issues can do pretty well in Yamhill County.

Steve Novick has an interesting story to tell, and I think that voters in McMinnville will listen to him if he decides to spend some time here.

Political reality check, people.

Steve Novick has zero name recognition outside of Portland metro and barely any here, except among activists. Earl has almost universal name recognition across Oregon.

Steve has minimal funding at this moment, except among certain activist groups. Earl would have funding across the board, statewide and nationwide.

Steve has very thin track record of statewide service except on certain issues that are a blip on the radar to most Oregonians. Earl's track record of service to the State of Oregon is impeccable.

I see with Steve as a Howard Dean rerun here in Oregon. By stoking up the activists with fire and brimstone against Smith, he makes us all feel good fighting against Smith. And then he loses to a seasoned politico with deep pockets and a better understanding of the political landscape.

Until I hear Earl say "no go", I'm backing him against Smith because I want to win the Senate seat... BAD. If Earl backs out, then I will support Novick or whoever the Democratic nominee is.

Earl has almost universal name recognition across Oregon.

That's certainly true. But along with that is a lot of baggage. Not that I wouldn't support him, and don't appreciate what he's done, and the stand's he's taken, including on Iraq. But I don't think streetcars are the issue in Pendleton that they are in Portland. (And, frankly, even here there's questions about streetcars.)

I think the Obama message has some resonance here. Sometimes not having instant name recognition also means you're more of a clean slate that people can project their hopes and aspirations on. Steve Novick's got an awesome story to tell-- I, for one, would like to hear more of it-- and he's enough of a different character that a message of economic populism could play well around the state.

Mainly, though, leadership is also about stepping to the plate when you need to step to the plate. That counts for a lot in my book, anyway.

If Earl runs, then I'm sure he'll find lots of support. But he isn't running, Steve Novick is, and I think it's a mistake to deride his campaign before it barely gets off the ground.

Pat, first off,I'm not saying Steve is not of high caliber. There are many people of high caliber that should be in office. But there are many people of high caliber who are NOT in office. Political reality is what it is.

Second, that approach worked pretty good for Democrats in 1992 with Clinton. Clinton had access to deep pockets and understood the political landscape. Kerry didn't understand the 2004 general election political landscape. The Republicans did, which is why Bush won. Once again, political reality versus idealism.

IMHO, Steve got major strikes against him (as outlined above) and unless many things happen, such as Earl or some other big name not running, Dems and Independents fully coalescing behind Novick and Novick attracting the big money, Smith will win re-election. Trust me, that's not what I want, I want anyone but Smith, its just political realism.

OK, enough bashing people. Steve's already made it clear that he won't run against Blumenauer -- so a primary between them isn't going to happen.

Here's one thing I do know: Both would be an improvement over Gordon Smith.

Moses, it is not lost on anyone here that Steve is a dark horse candidate in this election. To say that David is unlikely to beat Goliath is to champion the obvious.

And, as is the case of Novick vs Smith, I'm sure there was much hand-wringing among the Israelites to know that an unproven shephard was going to carry the banner of Israel.

No doubt there were many who believed that a more suitable champion should be found, but it was David who stepped forward, not someone else.

"If it's true that someone of Steve Novick's caliber can't be a viable candidate for U.S. Senate (I don't believe that), it's an indictment of the system that political insiders (like robocall shop owners) have created. And that's very sad indeed."

WTF does that mean? You might as well blame Alexander Bell for telemarketers. I'd be careful calling Moses' integrity into question unless you have a specific allegation to make.

Having defended Moses' honor...

"Steve has very thin track record of statewide service except on certain issues that are a blip on the radar to most Oregonians."

Since when are the environment, government spending, Bill Sizemore and Don McIntire blips on the radar to Oregonians?? I'd argue that it's much easier to resonate quickly with them by playing off their distaste for those guys, than by trying to explain your Medicare bill or how Local Improvement Districts can fuel renewal.

As for name recognition, if there was ever a no-name candidate for major statewide office who got as much media play as Steve did last week, please remind me of their identity. Absolutely, job #1 for at least the rest of this year is to wear out tires and shoe leather across the state and build Q rating. But to a large degree, that will come as a function of the state media, and if there's one thing I've learned about the media it's that they love a story that writes itself. Guys with no fibulas and a hook, who then turn out to have a gift for the witty quote, write their own story IMO.

There's no doubt Steve has a lot of work to do and is fighting institutional disadvantages. But few candidates in his position have as many tricks up their sleeve to beat the odds.

This guest column is one of the most overheated and melodramatic things I've read in a long time. It is so desperate in tone that it is almost painful to read.

Having said that, I freely concede that I am a notorious Steve Novick groupie so it's not as if I am unbiased. But as Miles pointed out above,

>we have an absolutely wonderful candidate who can really catch fire. . . if the progressive community rallies around him. Every minute we spend "drafting" someone who doesn't want to serve is a minute spent not building support for Novick.

To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, "you go into campaigns with the candidate you have, not the candidate you might have or might like to have at some other time." I'm getting to work now to elect Steve Novick.

"Torrid, maybe you should ease off the f---ing drama pills a little bit and relax. There were no specific allegations because there was no calling into question of any specific person's integrity. I'm sure Moses is a great guy and has done a lot of good work. And I'm sure a poolitical beliefs are pretty similar."

Not buying it, sorry--you very clearly indicted Moses acting in his capacity as a robo-polling political insider as part of the problem, creating a situation where Novick can't win, in your eyes.

I also don't see anywhere that he writes off Novick. He doesn't even MENTION him!

France had more than 80% participation in its recent election. The United States can barely get over 50.

Of course they had --and still have-- a (mon dieu!) Socialist running. Imagine that! And creeps like Le Pen run as open fascists, which is something refreshing. I mean, people running on substantively different ideologies. Not everybody trying to sound like everybody else in search of that great muddle, I mean middle. Yes, another grand candidate in favor of "accountability and transparency in government, and the defense of the middle class!"

And, hey, I don't know Moses from beans, and I'm sure he's a swell guy and all, but I still think robocalls suck, and are part of the problem, not part of the solution. (And having just gotten my first --well, it came to my wife-- Multnomah Democratic Party newsletter, only to read the staff's been laid off...I'd rather spend money on staffing than all the hokey gimmicks and sound bites that just turn people off. But then that's my opinion.)

And don't tell me "There is a real potential that Gordon Smith will be re-elected in 2008 by default, only because other prominent Democratic leaders, for whatever reasons, will not run against him isn't a slap against Steve Novick. Or, frankly, any other potential candidate who isn't "prominent" enough. Sheesh...we ain't stupid here. What's next, pats on the head? Tell us to go home and play, this isn't a game for amateurs, or children?

It's sorta like the $1,900 bucks Zidell paid last year for their 30 acres of prime riverfront, South Waterfront property. There are things some folks don't want to see, or acknowledge...like Steve's candidacy.

And, good grief, I hope the Zidell's aren't some of those Kingmaker's who pay for Democratic Party robocalls and such. Then I'd really be in trouble here!

Whoops (but, hey, now I get to say it again in the dying hope that somebody notices, or gives a rat's ass):

That should've read:

It's sorta like the $1,900 bucks Zidell paid IN PROPERTY TAXES last year for their 30 acres of prime riverfront, South Waterfront property.

I promise not to say it again. Besides I gotta catch me some of that Florida sunshine...

As for name recognition, if there was ever a no-name candidate for major statewide office who got as much media play as Steve did last week, please remind me of their identity.

Very true. The AP story was picked up by media all over the country, as well as in the UK. It was quite exciting. I've seen events like this have AP stories that don't even get picked up by the local media.

Every media outlet who "subscribes" to the AP has access to the stories, but they decide which ones are actually reproduced, not just linked, on their web sites. This was one that showed up multiple times the day after the announcement events.

Want to help Steve expand his visibility? Head over to his web site and sign up to host an event.

Disclaimer... I built the web site, but don't speak for the campaign.

I tried to tell you your link to the article didn't work, Moses, but my comment post blew up. Looks like you got that fixed.

I tried to become a "Pillar of the Party" --who can resist that alliteration-- but I got an error message and it won't accept my $120.00 contribution, something about "You purchased meals but specified 2 meal types. Please make sure these quantities match." No kidding.

Get it fixed and I'll be back.

Frank--

I'm investigating the cause of the error right now. I'll let you know when it's done.

"And, hey, I don't know Moses from beans, and I'm sure he's a swell guy and all, but I still think robocalls suck, and are part of the problem, not part of the solution."

I assume you're referring to candidate and party robocalls here. There is a much more vital and positive use for robocalls--political polling. Early evidence suggests that using an automated interviewer allows respondents to speak more honestly. In any case, robopolling Rasmussen has done a superlative job handicapping many races in the 2004 and 2006 elections, and Survey USA has shown some promise as well. So let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Thanks Jenni.

Something just occured to me, though.

I should be out in that Florida sun, but I'm sitting here still, my wallet out, I've signed up to host a party for Steve...there's something exciting about that candidacy.

Nothing against Earl, as a City employee I've known him for a long time, and respect what he's accomplishing in the House. But he ain't running, Steve is, and I really don't want to have Smith as my Congressman anymore.

Yes, I had seen your house party sign up come through. There is definitely something exciting about the campaign. I can't wait to see Smith defeated next year, and I'm going to do what I can to see that it happens.

I'm also going to be doing what I can to make sure I have a new state representative next session (I now live in Minnis' district) -- one with a "D" by their name, and to make sure my old house district (HD 50, John Lim) has the same.

Frank:

Please try again. We've been able to run tests through successfully. If it doesn't work, please let me know.

Thanks for your support!

It worked just fine. Thanks.

However, as a Pillar of the Party, you may just hear from me now and then. :-)