Mission: missive attack

It appears that Rep. Jeff Merkley’s recent poll riled the feathers of his rival for the Democratic nomination, Steve Novick.

The poll tested a number of negative assessments of Novick, which were called “fact-based” by Merkley’s spokesman Matt Canter, but branded as “absurd attacks” by Novick.

Novick was especially bothered by the statement that he had "made a political career out of developing negative attacks, poll-driven campaigns and advising candidates what to say to get elected," and told his opponent as much in an open letter.

"I was struck by that allegation," Novick wrote. "I had assumed that you supported (or at least did not oppose) all of the campaigns and candidates I have worked for over the years including those of Governor Ted Kulongoski, Governor Howard Dean, No on Measure 48 in 2006 (Don McIntire's TABOR) and No on Measure 91 in 2000 (Bill Sizemore's massive tax cut for the rich)."

Novick continued, calling on Merkley to detail the ‘fact-based’ objections to a list of political campaigns on which he has worked. Merkley’s response came in a letter from “one political consultant to another;” one political consultant being campaign manager Jon Issacs.

The letter, which offered instances of “personally insulting negative attacks you’ve leveled against other progressives for which Jeff Merkley believes you owe an apology,” included familiar refrains such as “Doesn't this prove that Obama is just another captive-of-special-interests fraud who doesn't really care about global warming and doesn't deserve to be hailed as some great Kenya-Kansas hope?” and other op-ed criticisms directed toward Sens. Obama and Clinton, Bill Richardson and Al Gore.

Although Novick’s challenge was to provide points of objection specifically regarding “my work on those [campaigns listed] or any other political campaigns," Issacs primarily included “insults” from 2006, when the only campaign Novick was working on was as a consultant on a campaign intended to beat Measure 48.

Nevertheless, the letter echoes Merkley’s sounding point on the issue of Novick’s willingness to criticize other progressives: “This is certainly an area where you and Jeff Merkley fundamentally disagree.  You believe we need to attack other people.  Jeff Merkley believes we need to attack problems.”

Merkley’s campaign has been eager to contrast the Speaker’s experience in the state House to Novick’s career on the other side of the election, and the exchange of missives provided another forum. “I want to compliment you on another creative stunt typical of someone in our chosen profession of political consulting,” Issacs wrote.

The poll also echoed other sentiments previously espoused by the Merkley campaign, especially when it queried voters about what in Novick's "background" concerned them most: "that he is a pro-tax advocate, political consultant, or that he is a divider."“Novick is simply not a serious candidate who can win election,” one statement read, seemingly speaking of the attitude of the Merkley campaign over the previous months.

Merkley, who began the race as the anointed frontrunner often treated Novick’s candidacy with an air of flippancy. Novick, the self-proclaimed underdog, has commented on the dynamic before, most notably after he scored the OEA endorsement.

The dynamic has also been reflected on a larger field. Last month, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee invited Issacs, to DC for a training seminar, while Weigler was omitted from the guest list.