MSNBC reporting that Merkley has defeated Smith in Oregon

[Stinky The Clown]

[Hope And Change]

1. That makes it 57 excluding Sanders and Lieberman, right?

[John Q. Citizen]

4. including I'm afraid.

[ananda]

5. Sanders is OK.

Sanders will vote with the Dems.

Lieberman should become a Reep since
he already is.

[formercia]

8. KAPO Joe will come crawling back home

still stinking of his latest lover.

[valerief]

2. Hurray!!!!!!!

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Alright, I couldn't believe it that wouldn't be so.

[gollygee]

6. Wooo!

They all count, even if we never make it to 60. Remember where we were 4 years ago!

[UTUSN]

7. K&R big #5!1 n/t

[Quantess]

9. But, neither Merkley or Smith are ready to call it until all votes are counted.

I read in a blog that a reporter surprised Merkley in his driveway by notifying him that he was winning. This, after everyone saying that Smith was barely winning.

[AllyCat]

10. Fair enough. Lets count the votes.

Then we'll legitimately welcome Merkley!

[central scrutinizer]

11. not official, but he's pulling away

http://egov.sos.state.or.us/division/elections/results/2008G/electionResultsView-258602371.html

fresh updates about once an hour

[Arugula Latte]

12. I'm so happy. I won't have to talk to Gordo's snarky-ass aide anymore when I call in to complain.

[gratuitous]

14. You actually got to talk to Gordo?

I've been to his office a couple of times, the last time with some folks from the Rural Organizing Project. Never a word from Smith's office. Some flunky came out and, despite the fact that the ROP folks had notified him weeks in advance they were coming, flunky said Smith couldn't meet with us. No, we couldn't go up to his office. If you have something written, flunky would be glad to take it upstairs to Smith's office. Dozens of people came from all over the state to travel to Portland in person, and flunky said he would take a written list up to Smith's office.

I called Smith's office during this cycle to ask why he thought using "Amazing Grace" was appropriate for a political ad. Didn't hear a peep.

[Arugula Latte]

15. No -- I was referring to an aide who always seems to answer in his DC office.

This guy is a piece of work...Just very rude and contemptuous of non-Repukes.

[davepdx]

16. I heard "He's not taken a position on that" so many times from Smith's aides

that I often wanted to slam my phone down. Fifteen minutes before a vote on a bill and he hasn't taken a position. I'm glad Smith is history. I'm so happy to have Jeff Merkley in his place.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. NBC News has officially called it for Markley

But so far no news of a formal concession by Smith.

[central scrutinizer]

17. Breaking: Smith has conceded!!!!!!

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/11/merkley_declares_victory_thurs.html

Republican Gordon Smith, who has represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate for the last 12 years, this morning called Jeff Merkley, his Democratric challenger, to concede their race.

Jon Isaacs, an aide to Merkley, said that Smith called Merkley about 8:40 a.m. to concede the hard-fought race, which came down to a few thousand votes. Isaacs described the conversation between the two men as "very cordial."

It came as Merkley prepared to give his acceptance speech this morning at Portland State University.