Hey everyone- just a quick note before I'm off: I'll be attending tonight's KGW/Oregonian debate amongst Speaker Jeff Merkley, Steve Novick, and Candy Neville, all of whom are competing for the right to take on Gordon Smith in November's U.S. Senate general election.

[UPDATED Wednesday Morning]

I think that Kevin Kamberg over at BlueOregon says it perfectly: "Overall I came out of there feeling very positive and upbeat. All three candidates performed well and I'd happily vote for any of them in the General Election. Seriously, that was my over-riding sense as I exited the building."

Any of the candidates on the stage would be a vast improvement over Gordon Smith, who votes far too often with President Bush against the interests of everyday Oregonians. I believe this is especially true of either Speaker Jeff Merkley or Steve Novick, both of whom demonstrated their usual wonkyness and shined as potential replacements for Smith.

I arrived at the KGW studios a little after 5:30 for a rally with Merkley supporters, and boy was I pleased. There were maybe 20-30 people at the height, waving signs as passing traffic, eliciting horn-honks and cat-calls. I staked out a corner at an intersection and bounced up-and-down for over an hour -- it was exciting and moving being with such dedicated Democrats hungry for change.

As the rally died down, I went into the studios with my fellow bloggers. We were led into the set and seated in the bleachers. Eventually, everyone (panelists, candidates, the moderator, campaign teams) came out and the stage was set.

The first portion of the debate went well, although I was a little disappointed at how quickly 30 seconds goes by. It's hard to articulate your policy in one minute, let alone in 30 seconds. But the three (Neville, Novick, Merkley) did well. Jeff, battling a hideous stomach flu, was forceful, animated, and passionate about policies of "hope and change" as he called them. Novick demonstrated his craft, mixing humor, policy, and a deep reservation about Gordon Smith. Neville was in the deep end here, but I was pleasantly surprised at how she held her own against the other two.

As for specific questions, I felt the best group and individual answers came on a question about Gordon Smith's seniority in the Senate. Jeff answered that it wasn't worth squat if it comes to bear on the wrong side of issues. Indeed, here's the line that stuck with me: "Gordon Smith never, ever has and never, ever will" be an ally to progressive legislation and Oregonians. At the same time, Novick and Neville also stressed the importance of getting Smith out of Washington.

Furthermore, while the format didn't lend itself to the question about China, I feel that Jeff's answer was spot-on. We need to talk about human rights, yes. We need to talk about trade, sure. But we also need to talk about Tibet. And, for me and especially in light of the upcoming Olympic Games, this is a conversation that needs to have begun yesterday.

I could split hairs and award the evening to one candidate or another, but I don't know if it really matters that much. I feel that both Jeff and Steve did excellent jobs. Although I also feel that Jeff is the more qualified candidate and can trounce Smith in November, I likewise feel that Steve could do it, too. Their performances last night didn't do anything to disabuse me of that notion.

I won't go so far as to advocate for a big damn love-in on Jeff and Steve, and I still have deep concerns about many of the things Steve has said (especially about Frohnmayer), but, you know what? Last night was the sort of debate this race needed.