The great thing about this is that we can start today to catch our nominee's back with ActBlue US Senate Nominee Funds. Here's the one for Oregon. While it's not a draft fund like the presidential candidates, any donations made to it are held and given to the Democratic nominee after the Oregon primaries are over.

So why wait, let's get ready starting now to take back Oregon.

Email him, encourage him, and if you can, contribute to the above mentioned ActBlue, and tell him you did so.  I can't contribute money, but I'm telling him that I will volunteer 100s of hours, since I live here in Oregon.
As an Oregonian, being familiar with our politics, I know it would be hard to take Gordon Smith down, but I also know that it is one of our best opportunities, and that Steve Novick is a stand-up guy.  It will be tough, but it is looking good right now.
Smith is increasingly out of step with Oregonians, and the local press gives him a free ride.  In the same article that the Oregonian (our statewide paper) called Gordon Smith a moderate, Smith called Democrats just a bunch of "socialists".  Yeah, Ron Wyden is a socialist.  Sure.  And so are the 39% of Oregonians who've registered as Democrats (to 35% Republicans).  So are the 49% of Oregonians that say they usually vote Democratic (to 39% Republican).  So are the voters who've elected only Democratic governors in Oregon since 1990 and given their electoral votes to every Democrat since, and including, Dukakis.
Democrats at the top of the ticket in Oregon have done better in each of the last elections:
In 2000, Gore won by 6,765 votes
In 2002, Kulongoski won by 36,219 votes
In 2004, Kerry won by 76,332 votes
In 2006, Kulongoski won by 110,038 votes
... while all statewide elected, state offices have been held by Democrats for years, Democrats have gone from minorities in both state houses to majorities in both in the last few years, with a whopping 18-11-1 majority in the senate (the independent is a good former Dem).
Bill Bradbury is a good guy, but was a bad candidate, a former DLCer if I recall, and never got the support he needed, and deserved.  He's been a great Secretary of State, IMHO.  2002 was a bad year for Democrats, though.  Regardless, with a good candidate, and a real effort, we can take down Gordon Smith.

There was some explanation of this in the Willamette Week piece, IIRC, but Novick has a history in Democratic and progressive politics in Oregon.  I don't think its still available without a fee, but the Oregonian had an interesting article about him, and I think I've read some columns by him in the Oregonian.  He's worked for a variety of progressive candidates, politicians, and causes, and he's probably one of those most responsible for the movement thats going on in Oregon today, though he isn't very well known.
He's a consultant, which some of you may not like, but he's a great, brilliant guy, that everyone I know loves.
From The Hill:
"Novick said he would yield should any Democratic members of the state's House delegation or Smith's 2002 opponent, Bill Bradbury, decide to run."

Bradbury won't run, because of his MS, Rep. DeFazio has said he won't run, Rep. Wu has problems, Rep. Hooley would be decent but has expressed no interest in any office other than that she occupies, and Rep. Blumenauer is very interested in running, or so I've heard, but hasn't said either way.

Hey all...  Kari Chisholm here, from BlueOregon.  I'm a friend of Steve's, so let me give you a little bio.

He was a lawyer for the US Justice Department (under Clinton) who was the lead counsel in the Love Canal case.  He won a $129 million settlement from the polluters.

After that, Steve came back to Oregon and served as a policy director for Governor Kulongoski's 2002 campaign, and as a policy director on the campaigns against a bunch of anti-tax anti-union ballot measures from our local Grover Norquist groupies.  He's a hard-core policy guy, but also very good with communicating tough policy concepts in an easy-to-understand way.

Has he run for office before?  No.  But neither had Paul Wellstone when he won a US Senate seat.  

A campaign from Steve Novick would be hard-punching and strong on ideas.  He's not the most well-known and wouldn't be the most well-funded, but he'd be a great candidate.  

Oh, and he's a blogger.  Check out his stuff on BlueOregon here.

I am serious about replacing ol Gordo the stealth bushie ... he needs to be gone big time! Now that being said, I have to shake my head when I hear an almost unknown name bandied about as a possible opponent. I am a registered democrat and I must confessed I have never heard of Novick.

There is no doubt in my mind Kitz could beat Smith easily and I think Earl would stand a very good chance as well ... I don't think DeFazio will run mainly becuase of his influence in the house. If all else fails, how about a person with name recognition that is flirting with becoming a democrat ... yes,  Ben Westlund.  Any of these options would be better then trying to build up a totally unknown candidate in my mind. Mr. Novick might be a great guy and a wonderful progressive; but, he certainly lacks a track record.

No matter how it goes ... I will contribute and work the democratic candidate. Lets get busy!!!

I've been working on this for a while.  Here's a rundown.

John Kitzhaber is out.
Peter DeFazio is out.
Dan Gardner is out.
Susan Castillo is out.

Earl Blumenauer hasn't said.
David Wu hasn't said.
Bill Bradbury hasn't said.
Ben Westlund hasn't said.

Follow up:  Today, Oregon's NPR affiliate reports that Congressman David Wu is also out.