News roundup from the Western Oregon kickoff

Over the last three days, Jeff Merkley introduced himself to voters in Portland, Medford, Roseburg, Eugene, Corvallis, Newport, Lincoln City, and Salem. (He'll tour Eastern Oregon in a few short weeks.)

Here's a sampling of news coverage...

In Roseburg, the crowd welcomed Merkley back to his childhood home - and he was excited to be there. From the Roseburg News-Review:

Born in Myrtle Creek, Merkley said he believes his message will be well-received in conservative parts of the state, including Douglas County.
“For one thing, I come from this part of the state and I’m fighting for working families. Sen. Smith has fought for the elites of this nation and for opportunism for those elites. The state is not filled with elites. It’s filled with working families, so it doesn’t matter where your address is. But it does matter where your heart is,” Merkley said. ...

Roseburg attorney Charles Lee said he came prepared to be disappointed but said he was pleased with Merkley’s talk.

“I didn’t know very much about him before. I think he did a pretty good job with the stump speech,” Lee said. “He came across as somebody that has been thinking about issues and problems and trying to find answers. And that’s a hard thing to find in a politician.”

The Register-Guard noted the strong support Merkley has in the Eugene area:

Local officials, including the mayor and four legislators, were there Tuesday to root on Senate candidate Jeff Merkley. The county's Labor Council president passed out his campaign placards to the 80-person audience.

But wait, there's more...

In Salem, Jeff Merkley noted the importance of getting out of Iraq. From the Statesman-Journal:

U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley, in his first campaign stop in Salem Wednesday, called for U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq and said there's no "magic wand" to avoid further chaos there once our troops depart. ...
"We need a U.S. senator who has opposed the Iraq war from the very beginning," Merkley told 60 local Democrats at the monthly DemoForum luncheon, in a reference to Smith's sudden turn against the war after the November 2006 election.

In Corvallis, was received warmly by Democratic voters. From the Gazette-Times:

Democrat Jeff Merkley, who aims to unseat U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith in November 2008, made a stump speech in Corvallis and was met with rousing applause on Tuesday night. ...
Diane Safford of Corvallis was happy to hear a candidate early, because she’s anxious to campaign for whoever she chooses to support — and that would be someone running against Smith.

Jessica Pankratz of Albany said she thought Merkley had a real chance. “It sounds like he’s going to be able to stand up for his ideas instead of caving in,” she said.

“I think we need serious change in Oregon and in the country,” said Sean Ross of Corvallis. “I think a good, serious progressive has a chance with the climate.”

The Oregonian covered the kick-off events in Portland and in Salem. There's also coverage from the Portland Mercury.

Posted September 20, 2007
In the News, Spotlight

Jeff Merkley was born in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, the son of a sawmill worker. He's fought hard for working families in Oregon and he's ready to help lead America.

As Oregon's Speaker of the House, Jeff Merkley led one of the most effective, efficient and progressive legislative sessions in Oregon's history - with big achievements for schools, ethics, health care, jobs, alternative energy, and protections for working families.

Discover why Jeff Merkley is ready to lead.

For years, Gordon Smith has given rich corporations and well-connected lobbyists in DC the upper hand - costing too many working families their jobs.

Jeff Merkley knows first-hand it's time to crack down on big corporations outsourcing American jobs and create economic opportunity for every Oregon worker right here at home.

Dive into the issues - and learn where Jeff Merkley will lead America.

Paid for by Jeff Merkley for Oregon