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Wednesday morning, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) broke from Senate colleagues, including Sen Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) for the Democratic nomination for president.
WW spoke with Merkley by phone about his declaration in The New York Times.
Responding to eight questions in eight minutes, he made the case that Sanders is best equipped to fight for the middle class, promised to teach the presidential candidate to correctly pronounce Oregon and begged for a little birdie to land on his podium when he's up for re-election in 2020.
"I didn't take into account the delegate math in making the endorsement," Merkley says. "I didn't want that to be the foundation of my endorsement. This is the individual who really has the strongest voice on the most critical issues we face."
What's been the response from Senate colleagues to your announcement?
Well, I haven't heard much from my Senate colleagues today. Ask me in a week, and I'll probably know a lot more about that.
Do you expect a response?
Virtually the entire Democratic caucus has endorsed Hillary—40 senators. So it's 40 to 1. I do think a lot of senators made their endorsement early on, long before they anticipated there would be a competitive primary.
Why Sanders?
In every position he's held, he's been effective. When he was mayor of Burlington, he brought in a sports franchise, he cleaned up the waterfront, he really set Burlington on a pathway of livability. It reminded me a little bit of the cleanup of Portland's waterfront some decades ago. Then in the House he was nicknamed the "King of Amendments," because he was more successful than any of the 435 members in getting amendments passed. And if you go through those amendments, they represent battles on behalf of ordinary citizens—middle-class, struggling citizens.
That kind of determination to help out Americans is a campaign he carried over to the Senate. And in the Senate he championed the effort to greatly expand our federally qualified health centers, which are the front door to our health care system for millions of Americans. He had a larger vision of single-payer for all, but he was willing to take whatever victory he could take in the direction of a more affordable, higher-quality health care system.
What can Sanders do for Oregon that Clinton can't?
Well, first, I am so impressed by both of our candidates. They both bring enormous experience. Secretary Clinton brings experience of decades in the political and policy field. She's been an effective advocate on health care. They share many of the same views on the affordability of education. She brings her experience as a U.S. Senator and a Secretary of State. So we're blessed with two extremely capable individuals. The reason I'm endorsing Bernie Sanders is that on key issues that I just described—that I feel are at the heart of the challenge of where America goes—Bernie has been a very bold and forceful advocate long before he ever entered any presidential campaign. That's why I'm endorsing him.
Are you going to teach Sanders how to pronounce Oregon correctly when he comes out again?
Well, I sure hope so. It seems to have been accepted by the folks who have turned out at his rallies. But hopefully when he comes back, he'll get that straight.
What's his path to the nomination?
It's definitely an uphill path. When you look at other campaigns, sometimes events occur in a campaign that change the dynamics and people sometimes succeed on those uphill paths. I didn't take into account the delegate math in making the endorsement. I didn't want that to be the foundation of my endorsement. This is the individual who really has the strongest voice on the most critical issues we face.
When Sanders was last in Portland, a little birdie landed on his podium. What did you think of that?
I thought that was absolutely beautiful, and I believe he said this little birdie must be a peace dove. What a beautiful omen that was. We could use a little more peace in the world.
What would you give to have that moment happen to you in your next election?
Oh please, could someone please train a bird to land on my podium? That would be awesome.
Willamette Week