Establishment Dem Beats Rival in OR Senate Primary

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1211352909172240.xml&coll=7

Merkley scores chance to take on Smith
The state lawmaker and national-party pick holds off Steve Novick's outsider campaign for Senate
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
EDWARD WALSH
The Oregonian Staff

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley won a narrow victory over political activist Steve Novick in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary Tuesday night, turning back a feisty rival to earn the right to challenge Sen. Gordon Smith in November.

With about two-thirds of the vote counted, Merkley was leading Novick 46 percent to 41 percent. Four lesser-known candidates, headed by Eugene real estate broker Candy Neville, split the rest of the Democratic vote.

In the Republican primary, Smith cruised to victory over retired ophthalmologist Gordon Leitch.