When there are thousands of individuals contributing to a candidate, it’s a pretty good sign that the campaign is gaining some grassroots support. That is the case with Jeff Merkley who received donations from 2009 individuals on his path to raising $913,000 since August and setting a two quarter record for a challenger in the state of Oregon. As Merkley recently said in response to the record setting numbers, these funds will go a long way in battling Senator Smith and the special interests that donate to his campaign.
“I’m profoundly grateful for the support we’ve received in just four short months. These are folks who believe, as I do, that we can only change Washington by changing the people we send there,” Merkley said. “For too long, Washington has been working in favor of the politicians and corporate special interests. And, unfortunately, Gordon Smith’s view of America begins and ends in a corporate boardroom.”
“As someone who grew up in Roseburg, the son of a mill worker and the first in my family to go to college, my view of America is entirely different,” Merkley said. “In the America I see, everyday Oregonians deserve protection from unfair trade deals, military veterans deserve full health care benefits, and middle class families deserve to come first for a change.”
What makes this even more impressive is the fact that these donations came in before the primary — a time in which potential donors are sometimes hesitant to contribute to a candidate. These numbers therefore go a long ways in showing that Oregonians really believe in Merkley’s candidacy — a sentiment that’s also shared by the various organizations that have already endorsed Merkley. In other words, congrats to the Merkley team for running a campaign Oregon residents believe will end with the election of a fabulous Senator.
Filed under: 2008 Senate Elections, Jeff Merkley
