Matt Yglesias

Oregonian: Merkley Wins

Gordon Smith hasn’t conceded yet, but the local media is calling the Oregon Senate race for Merkley.

Worth noting that a seat like this one is worth more to the Democratic Party than a seat like Kay Hagan’s. The Oregon race has turned out to be much closer because Smith has a reputation for independence, moderation, and hard work while Elizabeth Dole had none of those things. But a reasonably talented North Carolina Republican should be able to give Hagan a run for her money no matter what she does, whereas a Senator Merkley will be quite safe as long as he stays out of trouble.