Washington State Dems urge Merkley donations

Dwight Pelz, chairman of the Washington Democratic Party, wrote supporters Thursday and encouraged them to get involved in the Oregon Senate race by supporting U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley’s (D-Portland) campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton), the last remaining Republican senator on the West Coast.

“In Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, you won't find a better friend to George Bush,” Pelz wrote. “Smith is anti-choice, anti-environment, and anti-worker. He votes consistently with President Bush and his fellow Republicans, and served as co-chair of Bush's 2004 re-election campaign in Oregon. And guess who's a member of McCain's National Leadership team? (Give up? It's Gordon Smith!)”

Pelz urged Washington Dems to donate money to Merkley’s campaign, and assured them that a Merkley victory would be a victory for all Northwest Democrats.

"Jeff is a true progressive. The tenants of government that we in the Northwest like to identify with  – strengthening public schools, setting the foundation for a sustainable and responsible renewable energy policy, restoring America's reputation in the world, fighting for equality for ALL families  –  are all policies that Jeff has spent his life fighting for,” Pelz wrote.