OR-Sen: Steve Novick may challenge Gordon Smith

Steve Novick, a lawyer who pursued Love Canal polluters on behalf of the Carter Administration and a longtime Oregon Democratic activist, may run against Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) in 2008.

Steve previewed possible campaign themes in a hard-hitting Willamette Week article that came out yesterday. In it, Steve takes Smith to the woodshed over his refusal to support raising the minimum wage, his pathetic effort at wrapping an out-of-step antichoice position in a fuzzy sweater, and most of all his desperate attempt to finesse his years of unflinching support for George Bush's war.

Local bloggers are talking about Steve's possible campaign (which could shift into gear as soon as the rest of Oregon's congressional delegation and Secretary of State/2002 candidate Bill Bradbury make up their minds.

If Steve runs, he'll have my wholehearted support. I've heard lots of good things about him from local activists. He has the potential to become a real netroots favorite simply because he is totally unafraid to tell it like it is. Read the Willamette Week article -- I'd post an excerpt here but their servers are being a little weird at the moment -- and see for yourself (hopefully the link will work better by the time you're reading this).

Oregon Kossacks, if Steve decides to make the race, I think we should start him off with an ActBlue page and a big splash to show Smith we're here to go the distance. Early money is so crucial in races like this to fund operational startup and to show the DSCC and other potential big donors that we're serious. Will you help me set such a page up once Steve makes an announcement? I'm in for $100 the minute he makes a decision (and as a public defender with a family, that's no chump change for me).

Hopefully more developments on this race soon, folks.