Merkley to address Democratic National Convention

Oregon House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) will be addressing the Democratic National Convention, according to the convention’s organizers.

According to the Democratic National Convention Committee, the spotlight will be on Merkley Wednesday night when some of the Democratic Party’s top U.S. Senate challengers take center stage.

In a statement released with the announcement, Merkley said he was more excited to have the opportunity to talk to the convention about what he was going to do once he got to Washington D.C., not the battle that lies ahead of him to get there.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to address the Democratic Convention and speak to my vision to partner with Senator Obama and make Washington work for working families again,” said Merkley.  “Oregonians are ready for the kind of change Senator Obama will bring to Washington.”

Also speaking with Merkley will be Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tom Udall of New Mexico (D-N.M.), and Tom Allen (D-Maine). Three of those candidates, including Merkley, are competing in races that have been ranked by the Pindell Report among the top five most competitive Senate races in the country.

The speeches were organized by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. DSCC chair U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said in a statement that Merkley and other challengers are crucial to achieving the Democratic agenda in Washington.

“We have a once-in-a-generation chance to bring meaningful and lasting change to our country by electing Barack Obama president and sending a stronger Democratic majority to the Senate,” said Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“We need a stronger majority in the Senate to enact Obama’s broad, sweeping agenda, and our outstanding group of candidates is ready to deliver it.”