SALEM --U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) told attendees at DemoForum in Salem on Wednesday that in order for the Senate to pass significant legislation, they would need as many Democrats as possible, including U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley, (D-Portland) in the Senate chamber.

“Ninety-four times we were blocked by a filibuster,” Klobuchar said, telling the crowd about times that Republicans stood in the way of passing legislation. “I was brand new in the Senate, and I just couldn’t believe what would happen when we tried to get something done.”

Klobuchar, who was elected to the Senate in 2006, was on the campaign trail with U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) on Wednesday, helping to promote his candidacy and get out the vote.

Klobuchar also talked to the crowd about how the nose-diving economy had changed the tone of the campaign, and how voters were beginning to understand that the country needed a new change of direction after the economic squeeze became increasingly visible. According to Klobuchar, during the Bush administration, the average middle class family lost about $2,000 in wages while their home expenses went up $4,500.

“People don’t really want to talk about pit bulls anymore,” Klobuchar said. “That’s because we’re in the pits because of their bull.”

Merkley also made his case to the crowd of 80 gathered, urging them to help elect him to the Senate so that Democrats would have the numbers they needed to get legislation passed.

“We know something about paralysis in this state,” Merkley said, referring to the Oregon State House before the Democrats had taken over in 2006 and he became House Speaker in 2007. “We have to elect a working majority in the U.S. Senate.”

Klobuchar also encouraged the crowd to help get as many Oregon ballots turned in during the next six days as possible.

“Jeff and Mary did all this hard work, standing up when no one thought they had a chance,” Klobuchar told the crowd. “They’re 90 percent of the way there, but you need to get them the last 10 percent of the way.”