The Bend Bulletin reported today that the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has helped Jeff Merkley's U.S. Senate  campaign with an unusually early burst of financial backing, despite still adhering to the official policy of not endorsing candidates in the primary phase.

According to the story, the DSCC has sepnt $93,090 to help Merkley.

Merkley has been widely considered the establishment frontrunner in the campaign, although some pundits believe his most formidable opponent, Steve Novick, has the potential to score an upset in the May primary.