The debate over the Merkley-Novick debate

In anticipation of tomorrow’s debate between Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick at the Portland City Club, Matt Canter, the former’s spokesman, offered a bit of a preview of how he foresees the event.

The expectations echo sentiments already expressed in the race; Canter believes Novick will “start insulting Jeff out of the box. Insult after insult, calling him cautious, moderate, establishment, calling him any name he can possibly think of.” 

Canter said both men have been committed progressives, and that tomorrow will offer not so much a policy debate, but a debate in style.

“It will be a contrast in the old politics of insults versus the new politics of change and hope,” he said.  

Jake Weigler, Novick’s campaign manager, has his own expectations for tomorrow.

In response to Canter’s statement that “Novick puts food on his table be being a professional attack dog,” Weigler pointed out that the only campaign trotting out personal insults is that of Jeff Merkley. He also noted that earlier this week when Novick called upon Merkley to substantiate his polling statement regarding the specific campaigns on which Novick had acted as an “attack dog,” the Speaker couldn’t do it. 

“We are going to make the case that this is not how they are going to beat Smith, by putting out false attacks they can’t back up or support with evidence, or by attacking personal integrity,” Weigler said.