Oregon Public Broadcasting

Even though Oregon's primary election isn't until May, the campaign is already starting to heat up. Specifically, fundraising, where big-name candidates like Republican Senator Gordon Smith, are out collecting piles of cash for ads, mailing, and staff salaries. Ethan Lindsey reports.

All candidates for federal office had to file their 2007 year-end fundraising totals as January wrapped up.

Progressive activist and Democratic Senate candidate Steve Novick collected more than half-a-million dollars last year.

His biggest opponent, House Speaker Jeff Merkley, raised $916,000 in the six months since he entered the race.

Jeff Merkley: “We're raising a lot of money and we're doing it from living room to living room, and that part of the campaign is very enjoyable. But when you look at the size of the numbers, in order to have a robust debate about where our nation is headed, you can't have one candidated drowning out the other candidate.”

Both Merkley and Novick are running for the right to challenge Gordon Smith in November, but both of their war chests pale in comparison to the $4 million Gordon Smith has on hand.

Merkley has gotten some heat for continuing to fundraise during February's legislative session. He says he has directed his staff to stop taking money from in-state lobbyists.

But he says since he has connections to national Democrats and other donors, he can't just completely shut off the money valve for a whole month.