Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Democrats have chosen Jeff Merkley to take on Republican Senator Gordon Smith.  The Speaker of the Oregon House beat out a crowded field to win the Democratic nomination for Senate.  Correspondent Chris Lehman has more.

Merkley was the early favorite, but in the last few months rival candidate Steve Novick made waves with an unconventional campaign style.

Polls showed the two candidates in a neck-and-neck race, but in the end Merkley won with a fairly comfortable margin.

Four other candidates finished further back in the pack.  In a victory speech at a Portland restaurant, Merkley took aim at his next opponent, Gordon Smith.

Jeff Merkley:  "We have taken our first steps to take this country back from the lobbyists, to take America back from the powerful special interests, and to take our country back from politicians who serve those interests."

Smith is the only Republican senator on the west coast.  He's seeking a third term in office, and easily beat off a little-known primary challenger.

Smith has already been running ads attacking Merkley.