Neville weighs in on Merkley's 'Believe' ad

Novick made those comments not long before he decided to run for Oregon Senate. I admire Novick's bluntness but he should have known that it's counter-productive to insult Democratic leaders, especially when he's running for a place on their team.

My name is Candy Neville. I am running for U.S. Senate. I am absolutely appalled to realize that the negative campaign ads directed at Steve Novick were partially funded by the DSCC. They have heavily funded Merkley and should have overseen that the ads did no harm to other Democratic candidates. It is one thing for the DSCC to fund ads to bring down opponents from another party, it is another thing to fund ads that bring down their own candidates. I am against attack ads because they are misleading and inaccurate. People who donate to the DSCC expect their money to be faithfully used to promote Democratic candidates. Further, the ad funded by the DSCC going after Smith, actually has a hammer hitting where Novick sat and leaving only Merkley. The ad only defends Merkley. As a Democrat and a voter, I totally disapprove of funds misspent. If you want to vote for Merkley, vote for him because of his experience. Do not reward the shenanigans. This shameful intra party vicious attack hurts all well intentioned and caring Democrats. As an Oregonian, I am absolutely opposed to Washington outsiders making decisions for us. It is abominable enough that the press has so neglected the scope and width of this campaign, but for our own political party to cause us harm is unconscionable. I sent a statement to each newspaper regarding this disgraceful issue which affects us all and it received no mention whatsoever, except from the Democrat Herald. I sincerely care about the integrity of this election and count on the press to do their part and report when discrepancies arise.

Where have you come from, Ms. Neville? You're a breath of fresh air. I would love for the older political hands in this state to tell me the last time a candidate wrote a formal press release to decry an attack ad--that was aimed at another one of her opponents! She could have simply sat on her hands while the attacks went on, and not been thought of a lick to the worse. But she seems to have felt a moral responsibility to speak up, as a general principle against campaign tactics by ANYONE that she thinks are detrimental to the race. I can't really be trusted because I am as vocal for Mr. Novick as they get--but I think most any objective observer would take Ms. Neville's words to heart and really think about whether you can talk the talk of change but still walk the walk of old politics. And I think they would be REALLY impressed with Ms. Neville's courage and willingness to speak up. Candy, I agreed that the City Club had the right to invite whomever they wished, but I was so glad for the poll result that changed KGW's mind and put you on the public platform. Good luck to you next week.