Riding high, Jeff Merkley drops in on Netroots Nation
Kari Chisholm
Today and tomorrow, our U.S. Senate candidate - freshly leading in the latest poll - is attending Netroots Nation, the annual gathering of bloggers and blog readers (formerly known as YearlyKos.)
Blogging at DailyKos, Merkley netroots organizer Sarah Lane explains what it's all about:
This is an opportunity for bloggers to meet with Jeff face to face and an opportunity for Jeff to hear the concerns of progressive activists from all across the country. You and I both know that Gordon Smith is out of sync with Oregon and out of touch with the challenges everyday people face. Smith was instrumental in blocking the Employee Free Choice Act and voted against raising the minimum wage. Smith voted for telecom immunity and has been a rubberstamp for Bush when it comes to illegal surveillance. Smith spends millions misleading voters into believing he is a moderate, so it's up to the netroots to hold Smith’s feet to the fire when the media gives him a pass.It's time for the netroots to come face to face with progressive Democrat Jeff Merkley. Jeff is a candidate who will always fight for the best interest of working Americans. Jeff will not fold on FISA, ending the war or voting to pass harmful energy policies. Don't you think it's time you meet Jeff in person?
In addition to an appearance on a panel discussion about energy independence, Merkley will be chatting with bloggers Thursday night and Friday morning - and making sure that these netroots leaders know him, know the race, and understand what's possible.
If you're headed for Austin, check out Sarah's post for a detailed schedule.
Full disclosure: I built Jeff Merkley's campaign website, but I speak only for myself.
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10:11 a.m.
Jul 17, '08
I am really glad that Jeff is attending Net Roots since this increases his ability to raise national money on the web. Up until now this race has not gotten the attention some of the other Red-to-Blue races have because it has seemed a longer shot. In fact most of the net discussions outside of Blue Oregon have not given Jeff much of a chance of winning. With this poll and his presence at the conference his visibility should increase dramatically, which should lead to higher donations, which will lead to rising polls, which leads to higher visibilty, etc.
One other thought that hit me last night is that the current Smith ad that accusses Jeff of being a high taxer(read tax and spend Democrat)also communicates to people that Jeff is a Democrat. This year old style attacks by Republicans like this tend to reinforce partisan lines and in 2008 that is a good thing for Jeff. The key to Jeff winning is to get Democrats behind Jeff and not voting for Smith because he is a "moderate". This ad may be doing more good for Jeff than Gordon.
10:22 a.m.
Jul 17, '08
John, you may be right. I also suspect that it's designed to reinforce Smith's base. I doubt that the ad will run past the mid-summer.
10:51 a.m.
Jul 17, '08
I think you're both right. It does seem designed to reinforce Smith's base. But that works to Merkley's advantage because Smith's base simply isn't large enough to win and the unwashed masses are, according to virtually all generic Dem v. GOP polls, looking to elect Dems.
The timing of this poll couldn't possibly be better for Jeff, IMO. I can't think of a better circumstance for a Senate challenger going into Netroots Nation than on the crest of surging poll numbers showing him ahead of the GOP incumbant whom nobody has been able to dislodge thus far.
Jul 17, '08
@Kari et al
Do you think this site could start assembling a unified theory of why Gordon Smith sucks (like what Josh Marshall is doing for McCain over at TPM)? Or at least an assemblage of everything on which he's flip-flopped or just voted badly. It's just hard to know where to look on my own for this info, and I want to know what to tell people down here in Jackson County what to know about Smith.
Cheers!
2:23 p.m.
Jul 17, '08
Stefan:
www.stopgordonsmith.com is a good place to look.
4:06 p.m.
Jul 17, '08
(this post will only make sense once the other one that got held is published, but yes I know p-e-t-r-i-c-h-o-r called it a "lead" at LO as well. It's not right at either place. :))
...and I think I found out why it's being held.
4:15 p.m.
Jul 17, '08
Posted by: torridjoe | Jul 17, 2008 4:06:00 PM
More tongue and less teeth, buddy.
Jul 18, '08
Thanks, Jenni! I'm bookmarking it as I type...
Jul 18, '08
Thanks, Jenni! I'm bookmarking it as I type...
Jul 18, '08
I was really interested in attending Netroots Nation, so I went to their web site a couple of months ago to find out who the speakers would be and what we'd be covering. There was virtually no information about the agenda -- only a message like "stay tuned for details" that was still up even a month before the event. I signed up to get updates for when they had nailed down an agenda and speakers, but never received anything.
I concluded that it was a poorly run event and would be thin on content. Maybe it turned out better than it seemed it would. But gees, for people who specialize in getting information onto the Internet, their registration information was spectacularly lacking.