[img_assist|nid=3123|title=Merkley supporters at Clackamas County Victory Headquarters in Oregon City|desc=About 12 supporters for U.S. Senate candidate JEff Merkley gathered outside of the Clackamas County Victory Headquarters Tuesday night, while U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith was inside thanking the volunteers.|link=none|align=left|width=250|height=178]OREGON CITY -- About 10 supporters for U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) were gathered outside of the Oregon Victory campaign headquarters Tuesday evening, cheering and waving signs in support of the Oregon House Speaker.

Inside, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) was inside meeting and thanking volunteers, assembling mailers and making phone calls at the Clackamas County Victory Headquarters on behalf of Oregon’s Republican candidates.

“This is about showing who Jeff Merkley is,” Democratic Party of Oregon spokesman Marc Siegel said. “Jeff Merkley is the candidate for change in this election. Gordon Smith is the candidate of the status quo.”

When asked if Republican volunteers were really the crowd Democrats should be spending their energy courting with two weeks until the election, Siegel was optimistic about getting the Democratic message across.

“Maybe we’ll convert a few Smith supporters,” he said.