Novick tries to capture voters disappointed in a "wrong track"

With polls showing nearly 70% of Oregonians unhappy with the direction of the country, Steve Novick’s U.S. Senate campaign is focusing on a group of Democratic primary voters that are unhappy with how both parties – Republican and Democrat – are doing business in Washington, D.C.

“Republicans and Democrats are not doing what they need to be doing to turn the country around,” said Novick in an interview with PolitickerOR.com. “A lot of people are concerned that Democrats took control of Congress and have not been able to bring the war to an end.”

Advisers to Novick believe that there is a faction of the Democratic electorate that is feeling increasingly dispirited in their party’s leadership on Capitol Hill. Focus group polling for the campaign, sources say, shows that voters use words like “disappointed” in describing what they see as a lack of Democratic action on issues like children’s health insurance, veteran’s care, and Iraq.

“Voters want to choose a candidate who can do something in Washington,” said one adviser.

It is a message that Novick, a former Department of Justice environmental attorney, is conveying forcefully.

"The American people gave Democrats control of Congress for a lot of reasons, but the central reason was that they wanted to see an end to this war and a new direction for our nation,” Novick said in a statement late last week as congress was wrapping up its final business of the year. “They expected Democrats to stand up to George Bush. They expected an end to business as usual. “

Tim Hibbitts, an Oregon pollster, said that with data showing deep dissatisfaction with Washington running across the country, Novick’s message is fit for the times.

“When that kind of climate is etched, the right kind of environment exists for the kind of campaign that he is running.”

Campaign observers interviewed for this article said that, running in a Democratic primary, Novick would have to walk a fine line.

But Novick insists that his campaign is far more nuanced than railing against the Party establishment.

“We can be angry without being bitter. We can be hopeful without being hopeless,” he said. “We are at a crossroads, but we are not at a dead end.”

“The key,” he said, “is to tell voters the truth.”

Novick said that in the coming months he would focus on laying out his plans for action on issues such as spending, global warming, healthcare, and inequality. And, when appropriate, he said, he would focus on describing primary opponent Jeff Merkley’s record in those areas.

“We are focused on running a positive campaign,” said Novick campaign manager Jake Weigler. “At the same time, we will show where we stand on the issues.”