It's Election Day!!!

And quite a lovely on at that. I woke up to the sound of the first rain in some time. Some folks will have their parades rained upon today, I'm hoping that not too many of mine will feel the clouds. I've been too busy out stumping for Steve Novick to write anything lately so I'll simply link to my endorsements and to Loaded Orygun's election "pre-game." If you want to find me tonight, I'll be at the Novick party at the Benson Hotel tonight. This night will end in tears for some, I'm (selfishly) hoping that it won't for me.

Duelling polls in Oregon US Senate race

Two polls, one released today and another yesterday, show that the race for the Democratic nomination to take on Gordon Smith is very close. A SurveyUSA shows Jeff Merkley with a lead over Steve Novick within the margin of error (31-27, 4% MOE). A poll conducted by Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall Inc. shows Novick with a slight edge beyond the margin of error (29-23, 4.8% MOE).

What does this say? It says that the race remains competitive and that the next week is going to be very important to the outcome of the race and that many voters remain undecided. I would chalk up Merkley's improvement in the polls to the massive TV buys that have gone on in the last couple weeks.

Novick has just released a new ad himself, one starring John Kitzhaber, and will be taking to the airwaves in these last days of the primary campaign. Let's get to work.

Steve Duin on Obama, Fish, Novick

In today's Sunday Oregonian, Steve Duin writes about what (he thinks) voters want this year. Unsurprisingly, it's a variation on the common theme talked about recently of "change." Instead of the "laundry list," as Duin puts it, of either accomplishments of things achieved or promises of things to come, they're looking for an emotional connection with their Electeds-to-be.

Somewhat surprisingly, he doesn't lead with Obama, but with Nick Fish, who is running for the Portland City Council. Fish has run, unsuccessfully, for the Council twice before and I'm hoping that, "Third time's the charm" holds true for Fish. He's upfront with his shortcomings during the previous runs, saying that, "I give myself an 'F' in communication skills in that race [in 2002]," Nick Fish said. "I'd say, 'Hi, I'm Nick Fish. I'm a lawyer and this is what I believe,' and I only succeeded in putting up five barriers for a meaningful conversation."

While Fish's campaign has been low key, I feel like he's learned some of those lessons and is better prepared to bring his passion for affordable housing to the Council now. (He's previously served on the Housing authority of Portland as a Commissioner and then as Vice Chair.) With Erik Sten vacating his seat, we need someone with the same commitment to accessible housing.

So, wasn't I thrilled last night to read Nick Fish (and Duin) say some very nice things about my favorite candidate of the cycle, Steve Novick

"If we know nothing about Obama, we understand his values, who he is and what he believes in," Fish said. "People feel a visceral connection to him, a connection that's stronger than the connection to his opponent."

While Merkley, speaker of the Oregon House, has run the most sanitized, tone-deaf campaign in recent memory, Novick not only has a literal hook but a narrative one as well.

"The biggest houses in Irvington, some of the most expensive in the city, have Novick signs," Fish said. "This is a guy who's on the stump saying the rich aren't paying their fair share in taxes. Are these people dying to pay more in taxes? No. They support him because he's willing to talk about subjects that have been taboo.

"With Novick, it's the value of candor and conviction and a reasonable dose of self-deprecating humor. Steve puts front and center who he is and what he believes. He tells stories and answers questions directly. He's made a virtue out of being partisan."

And voters, as weary of plastic politicians as they are of plastic bags, are intrigued.

We've got some great folks to vote for this season and Duin has identified several of them here.

Postage increase won't stop mail-in ballots

A small snag emerged recently for Oregon's Vote-By-Mail system.

Ballots were recently mailed out and are due in May 20, but there's a postage rate increase that will take effect on May 12. (Rates are going up from 41 cents to 42 cents.)

Fortunately, this has already come to the attention of the Postal Service and the election offices across the state. OPB is reporting that ballots, even those sent with old stamps, WILL be delivered. The county elections offices will pay the extra penny for ballots mailed after the increase. But... This is a(nother) good reason to get your ballot in as early as possible.

Please vote, and please vote soon. (And please be polite to anyone who happens to be calling you about your votes...) If you're looking for tips on who to vote for, you can find my endorsements here.

More newspapers for Novick!

Since Sunday's Oregonian endorsement of Steve Novick over Jeff Merkley for the US Senate Democratic nomination, five more newspapers have joined the chorus of voices calling for change in the US Senate. This series of endorsements will put good ink in front of people's eyes as ballots are arriving in the mail. I couldn't be happier.

Wednesday, the Willamette Week endorsed Steve saying:

We were hotly divided between the fun, speak-his-mind insurgent who calls to mind the late Sen. Paul Wellstone and the impassive Merkley, who calls to mind the widely respected Sen. Al Gore—the wooden version, before he became as steaming as the planet.

In the end, we rallied around Novick because we see a capacity for a refreshing independence and an unwavering willingness to tackle our toughest issues, like providing universal health care and ending the war in Iraq.

...

The toughest and smartest guy in this race is Novick.

The following day, the Portland Mercury endorsed:

We've gone back and forth on this endorsement for weeks. Were we choosing the candidate who would make the best US Senator, or were we picking the one best suited to topple formidable Republican Gordon Smith—someone who'd put up a better fight, even if they weren't ultimately successful?

Finally, we realized that attorney and political activist Steve Novick is the best choice on both counts. Not only will he give Smith the toughest challenge—just look at the momentum he's got against Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, a solid political leader, and the guy plenty of Democrats assumed would be coronated as the nominee—but assuming he wins in November (and we're starting to believe he can), we're excited to see what he'd do in DC.

...

While Merkley would likely be a solid senator, given his track record leading Democrats in Salem, we're just not that into him. Vote for Novick.

Then, rounding up the Portland area general interest papers, The Portland Tribune gave Steve its endorsement:

...our belief is that voters, if they are inclined to replace Smith in November, will be looking for someone who doesn’t fit the traditional political mold.

And there’s no question that the feisty Novick, who stands 4-feet-9, has a mechanical hook on the end of his left arm and speaks with sharp conviction, would break most anyone’s mold.

...

The Novick-Merkley contest is an extremely close call, but if the goal is to provide voters with a vigorous debate and distinct choice in the fall, then Democrats should send Steve Novick forward as the candidate most capable of challenging Smith.

Lest it be thought that Novick's appeal ends at the Portland city limits, the week also saw two non-Portland papers giving their endorsements to Steve.

The Ashland Daily Tidings had this to say:

We think both Merkley and Novick are qualified candidates and both are capable of unseating the only remaining Republican senator on the West Coast. But Novick brings a spirit and focus to the campaign that is refreshing and we have no doubts that he would carry that same fearless approach to Congress. We endorse Steve Novick for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate.

The East Oregonian also supports Steve:

We believe Novick's unconventional and audacious style presents the best option for Democratic hopes to unseat Smith.

...

Novick vows to be an outspoken advocate for Oregon and the issues that matter to all Americans - the economy, health care and the war. He also has Beltway experience fighting pollution by huge corporations.

...

While the Democrats face a distinctly uphill battle to unseat our Sen. Smith - or maybe precisely because of that - their best choice is Steve Novick.

Not a bad week for the campaign, not a bad week at all.

Nick Fish airs campaign ad

Nick Fish, my favorite candidate for Portland City Council (Position 2), has just released a TV commercial as ballots are coming into people's hands.

Here it is:

Related: Amanda Fritz goes on the air.