ORGOP highlights Merkley’s out-of-state fundraising; Novick steps up in-state Merkley support

The Oregon GOP Friday spotlighted out-of-state contributions to Oregon House Speaker and U.S Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), while in-state more Democrats rallied behind Merkley as his campaign against incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) heats up.

According to Federal Elections Commission data provided by Republicans, Merkley has received a total of $1,067,556 in non-Oregon contributions, including $832,551 from the Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee and $235,005 from the Majority Action Fund.

"Out-of-state special interest groups are holding the puppet strings to Jeff Merkley's campaign," said Brianne Hyder, spokesperson for the Oregon Republican Party.  "When Oregonians are looking for a candidate with solutions to some of our most pressing problems, Jeff Merkley is looking to Washington for more money to invest in negative advertising against Senator Smith.  Hey Jeff, how many million-dollar favors do you owe to Chuck Schumer and his buddies?"

But Merkley's campaign did not seem perturbed by receiving out-of-state help.

"Democrats across the country are fighting hard to elect Jeff Merkley; he's received contributions from all 50 states," Merkley campaign spokesman Matt Canter said. "That's because these people know how vulnerable Gordon Smith is. Guess who else knows how vulnerable Gordon Smith is: Gordon Smith."

Meanwhile, on Friday one of Merkley's in-state supporters and his opponent in the had-fought Democratic primary, Steve Novick, urged his supporters to help Merkley financially before the fundraising quarter ends on Monday.

"We have to give him the resources he needs to tell voters about Gordon Smith's real record, and contrast it with Jeff's record as a champion of the environment, of working families, of equal rights for all," Novick wrote in an e-mail.

Novick endorsed Merkley on May 22, two days after he lost in the primary.

"Ron Wyden deserves a progressive partner, not an opponent, in the U.S. Senate. Jeff Merkley will be that partner," he said at the time.