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Cover Oregon failure puts Merkley’s seat at risk

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by NW Spotlight

National Journal Hotline [2] is calling Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-Oregon) seat one of fifteen U.S. Senate seats “most likely to switch.” Merkley’s seat comes in at #15.

Hotline notes [3] “Merkley is facing a field of untested Republicans. But disappointment over the 2010 health care law could resonate more in Oregon, which created its own exchange but has struggled to get it started [4]. Even if the federal government gets its website fixed soon, Oregon’s portal might not be up until mid-December.”

Merkley, a freshman Senator, narrowly won [5] election in 2008 by a 3.4% margin over Republican Sen. Gordon Smith – in a race where the Constitution Party candidate took [6] 5.2% of the vote.

Hotline further notes “One of Merkley’s GOP challengers is pediatric neurosurgeon Monica Wehby [7], who has no political experience but could appeal to voters on the issue.”

Oregon State Rep. Jason Conger [8] (R-Bend) has also announced he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Jeff Merkley, as have Republicans Jo Rae Perkins [9] and Mark Callahan [10].

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