Warming Up for the Second Merkley/Smith Live Debate
Paulie Brading
Greetings from Jackson County:
Last night Senator Wyden rolled right into the Redrock Italian Eatery in Medford for an evening of electoneering for Speaker Jeff Merkley. An enthusiatic crowd thanked Sen. Wyden for attaching the county timber payments bill to the bailout bill that passed last week. Wyden's integrity did not fail him when he voted against the bailout and it's particularly sweet that he attached the county payments bill to just about every piece of legislation he could. Perserverance is just one of the words I'd use when describing the Senator's leadership style.
A big rally in front of KOBI-Channel 5, NBC is planned for 5:30 pm tonight. We are anxious to watch the second and last debate between Merkley and Smith. After Speaker Merkley enters the studio we'll run over to Four Daughters Irish Pub to sit on cushy couches to watch the debate and hoist a few. Immediently after the debate Jeff Merkley will join his supporters. His supporters are fired up and ready to go!
A hat tip to the Merkely field representatives who've invited 170 of Jeff's best friends to the rally. If that wasn't enough, the Jackson County Democrats sent out thousands of emails to invite people to the rally. Ian Foster, a local from Medford set up the Forward Oregon campaign for Jeff Merkley inside of the Jackson County Democrats office. His assistant Josh Lustig has been relentless in chasing down volunteers to work on Jeff's behalf. The joint is jumping with phone banks and canvassing teams coming and going though out the day and into the night. Trays of food magically appear for the volunteers all contributed by candidates and supporters.
The Jackson County Democrats have been giving away free Obama/Biden lawn signs which keeps the foot traffic flowing. A small group of loyal Dems put up a large chunk of their own money to purchase those signs.
Down here we know there has been a rebirth of Democrats, much like the Renaissance period of European history. We are witnessing changes in social relations, economics and political thought like many of the other counties in Oregon. When I review the precincts in Jackson County it is gratifying to see the changes in voter registation. Ashland has always been blue but it is getting even bluer. There is an upward surge of Democrats on the Eastside of Medford and large surges in several West Medford precincts. The towns of Talent and Phoenix are off the charts for Democrats and looking more and more like Ashland everyday. There is only a 2% difference in voter registration between the R's and the D's. We are doing everything we can to move the Democrats into the majority party in Jackson County and we're almost there.
While we appreciate the bonus of McCain's ruinous campaign and the last 8 years of smoke and mirrors from the Bush campaign, the folks who deserve all of the credit for improving our odds have worked for two solid years to bring us to parity in Jackson County. We set our goals two years ago and we're almost there.
Gordon Smith came into town last night and held a fundraiser at a private home. The Smith "tracker" informed me this morning that only 7 cars were seen going up the driveway to the fabulous mansion where the event was held.
Jeff is going to have a great night tonight debating Gordon Smith! You can count on it!
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Oct 13, '08
That sounds like fun. Could someone please tell me where I might view this debate in Portland or online? Thank you.
6:59 p.m.
Oct 13, '08
Just looking for the same thing. It appears those in Portland will need to wait until 8 to get it:
From an earlier post:
Tonight at 7 p.m., Gordon Smith and Jeff Merkley will face off in Medford at the studios of KOBI. In Medford, the debate will be live on-air on KOBI (channel 5). In Klamath Falls, the debate will be live on-air on KOTI (channel 2). In Eugene, the debate will be live on-air on KEVU (channel 4). Tape-delayed broadcasts will be available Oregon Public Broadcasting, Southern Oregon Public Television, and Eugene's KLSR (channel 5). It will also be available online at kobi5.com, immediately following the debate (approximately 8 p.m.)
Oct 13, '08
is this supposed to be a big poo you to the Evil Portland? What's up with this? Sure feeds into Smith's ads that he ran in "the rest" of Oregon.
Oct 13, '08
So much for the public airwaves. No debate here in Portland.
That sucks
Oct 13, '08
jeebus, you won't even live-blog the debate for me? How crappy is this?
Oct 13, '08
Wow, KOBI is really pathetic. No live-stream of the debate? How long will it take to put up the replay? Why should the public loan you OUR AIRWAVES? Why is Portland being left out of the Oregon conversation tonight?
Oct 13, '08
Hi Paulie,
It is encouraging to read your description about the growth of the Democratic Party infrastructure in Jackson County. I'm in Bend and Deschutes County. Locally we hit a milestone earlier this year with Democratic Party registrations topping the GOP in Bend for the first time in decades. In 2000 I couldn't find a HQ for the local Dems. This year they occupy a prominent 6,000 sq. ft. office across from City Hall in downtown, and the Obama HQ is a few blocks away in downtown and it is, like yours, a humming beehive of activity. It's funny what can happen after a mere 8 years of tyranny.
Best, Ray
7:12 a.m.
Oct 14, '08
The rally outside of the studio brought out well over 100 Merkley supporters. Jeff Merkley shook hands with as many people in the crowd as he could before the debate. After the debate he found a huge crowd waiting for him at 4 Daughters Irish Pub. I was stunned to see so many people who'd gathered to watch the debate. The Republican office is right across the street from 4 Daughters. I counted 18 people waiting for Gordon Smith to visit them after the debate. Quite a contrast in crowd size and enthusiasm.
This was Jeff's best performance! Gordon Smith mailed it in. Jefff's closest campaign staffers were wound up tighter than their candidate. Jeff delivered on each and every question. I often think of Jeff Merkley as the opposite of Sarah Palin, all substance!!!!!!
11:03 a.m.
Oct 14, '08
Paulie, as always, it is great to read your reports from down South. I am always keenly interested to get a report from the ground--
Oct 16, '08
I just watched the last debate between Jeff Merkely and Gordon Smith from southern Oregon. What a difference! Merkely was up-beat, energetic and positive while Gordon looked tired and desperate. Merkely’s slightly ahead in the polls in what looks to be a very good year for Democrats while Smith remains the only Republican senator on the West Coast.
Smith, having quickly acquired an arrogant Senatorial speech pattern, slow, deliberate and reluctant, was obviously tripped up answering questions within a time limit. He was tired, flustered and lost. Guess that’s what happens after six year stretches of a guaranteed job! But it caught up with him tonight; he did a poor job and should be judged the loser.
Merkely, younger, and having two pre-teen children, was on top of his game and quite refreshing. His answers, unlike Smith’s, were concise and well delivered; and his healthy smile was in stark contrast to Smith’s depressed grimace. As Merkely pointed to Smith’s voting record of backing Bush 90% of the time, Smith’s only “claim-to-fame” was how often he voted with Ron Wyden, Oregon’s Democratic Senator. How ironic!
But with Wyden supporting Jeff Merkely, and, as Merkely mentioned taking pride in Oregonian’s having the lowest opinion of Bush of any state in the nation – I likely witnessed the next United States Senator from Oregon. Let’s make it so!