Novick is the man, and will make an awesome US Senator.  Novick encouraged two Oregon congressmen to make a run for the Senate (Peter DiFazio and Earl Blumenauer), and only entered the race -- as the sole Dem ready to challenge the entrenched Gordon Smith when neither of those more well-known guys would run.

But he's not a candidate yet -- months after Novick got in, Chuck Schumer of NY recruited a colorless guy to run against Novick.  This latecomer, who had to be coaxed into the race, is named Jeff Merkley and polls show he has less name recognition -- even as the current Speaker of the House in the Oregon Legislature -- than Novick does.    Schumer gave Merkley $100,000 for the primary, a blatant attempt to make Oregon's choice for it, and one he is likely to regret.  

As one woman in the Oregon Ed Assn. said when talking about Merkley's blahness, "If you put all the white Democratic politicians in the country into a blender you'd wind up with Jeff Merkley."

Novick (novickforsenate.com) has an amazing personal story and cajones way out of proportion to his 4'9" stature.  His two TV ads to date have been hilarious (they're on his website).

If you want a whip smart and absolutely fearless Democratic US Senator from Oregon to join Ron Wyden, consider making a donation to Steve Novick from wherever you are.  Then he'll be a candidate, and, yes, he gets it on the environment.

Save the world: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 5% annually.