Novick's 'if I could' moment

Observers of the race for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race can probably say one thing with certainty, that Steve Novick is not afraid to speak his mind, even when it might be unpopular with the Democratic establishment.

Comments regarding Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as Novick’s support of Independent candidate Ralph Nader back in 1998, have received lots of play in the press.

The most recent of the candidate’s comments to undergo scrutiny came in the form of an answer to a question posed during the Willamette Week’s endorsement interviews. Candidates were asked who they would support if they could not vote for themselves.

Novick said, "I'd vote for John Frohnmayer." Frohnmayer is running under the banner of the Independent Party, however, and the Willamette Week wanted him to pick a Democratic candidate. When he was asked what other Democrat he would support, Novick paused for a minute and said, "I have a hard time answering that."

Novick, who is locked in a heated campaign with Rep. Jeff Merkley, also said he would have to wait to see if Merkley "continues to run the kind of campaign he's running against me."

According to Jake Weigler, Novick’s campaign manager, Novick “really believes need someone who is willing to stick to his principles [like Frohnmayer.]”

Ultimately, in the interview, Novick made it clear that he will support the Democratic nominee: "I will vote for the Democratic nominee, but if I could vote for the person I think is best qualified other than myself, I would vote for John Frohnmayer."

Novick’s statement—on top of the divisive presidential primary—inspired a letter from Meredith Wood Smith, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon.

“In the last couple days we have been receiving a lot of questions about how to deal with the contested primaries. Specifically the Presidential campaign has really heated up and the Senate Candidate Steve Novick's comments about supporting Independent Candidate John Frohnmayer in the General Election have generated a lot of controversy,” she wrote.

“To support a third party candidate-and thus make it more likely that candidate stays in the race-merely makes it easier for Gordon Smith to win re-election and continue his support of the Bush-McCain agenda. That agenda will lead to 100 more years in Iraq and more special interest control in Washington, DC," the letter continued.

Weigler said that “the [party's] responsibility is to unite the party, and Steve has made it clear he will support the Democratic nominee in the general election.

The issue got some further play in tonight’s candidate debate, when Novick continually emphasized how he stands behind his principles, regardless of the popularity cost.

He also reiterated—and perhaps clarified—that he is going to “throw [him]self into electing whoever gets this nomination.” Instead of saying that he would (in an ideal world) support Frohnmayer, however, Novick urged the Independent candidate to drop out and support the Democratic nominee.