Oregon Public Broadcasting

Democrats turned up the heat Wednesday in Denver after some criticized the rhetoric at the Democratic National Convention for being too easy on Republicans and President Bush.

The more aggressive tone comes on the day the Democrats officially nominated Senator Barack Obama for President, after Senator Hillary Clinton pledged her delegates to her one time opponent.

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley got the opportunity to speak to the convention in the afternoon.

Jeff Merkley: “Y'know, my opponent talks like Barack Obama, but he votes like George Bush.”

Merkley's address wasn't high profile - it ran total of 150 seconds, and was one of a number of speeches by Democratic Senate hopefuls from  toss-up states.

It also came before network television began broadcasting.

The entire speech was vetted by the Obama campaign. Merkley's staff says there was only one edit.

Where Merkley wanted to criticized the policies of “Bush and Cheney”, the Obama campaign changed it to the policies of “Bush and McCain.”

Jeff Merkley: “Oregon needs a senator who will fight for affordable health care, living wage jobs, an end to the war and a smart energy policy, not a senator who will give us more of Bush and McCain's failed policies.”

The Oregon state delegation waved yellow banners that read “This is Merkley Country” from the back of the auditorium, as  Merkley read his remarks.

Merkley's spokesman says besides the speech, the networking opportunities will help with fundraising as the senate campaign heads into the final two-and-a-half months.