Dean, Merkley, Wyden fire up Dem volunteers

PORTLAND --  Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean stumped with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland) and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) at Barack Obama’s Oregon headquarters Sunday night, urging volunteers to work as hard as possible in the next 48 hours to turn out as many voters as possible.

Dean noted that voter turnout in Oregon was down from 2004, and he urged volunteers to knock on as many doors and make as many phone calls as possible. He also was sure to remind the 300 volunteers gathered that it was too late for voters to mail in their ballots; they have to be taken to a dropoff site.

“The speeches have been made, and the ads have been put on television. Now there is work to be done,” Dean said. “This is how we’re going to win this for Barack Obama, and this is now we’re going to send Jeff Merkley to the U.S. Senate."

Secretary of state candidate Kate brown, state treasurer candidate Ben Westlund, attorney general candidate John Kroger and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian were also on hand at the event, but the focus was on gathering enough support to push Merkley ahead of U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) in the final tally.

“Boy will it be great to have Jeff Merkley as a partner in the Senate,” Wyden told the cheering crowd. “I’ve been hearing a lot about Joe the Plumber. Jeff and I love plumbers, but when we’re in office you are going to hear a lot about Sally and Sam the solar folks.”

Merkley also talked about needing to elect him in order for the country to be able to have a Democratic majority to lead the country in a new direction.

“Oregon needs to be instrumental to put American back on track,” Merkley said.

Wyden added that the possibility of a veto-proof Democratic majority would probably fall to Oregon Tuesday night.

“Everybody is going to be watching Oregon,” Wyden said of the Senate race. “They’re going to be in a position to say change started here, here in Oregon.”