In a surprise to just about no one, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley announced he's entering the U.S. Senate race to challenge incumbent Gordon Smith.

His biggest competition in the primary is Steve Novick, who's been on the campaign trail for several months, but hasn't raised much money compared to Smith's war chest.

The hottest discussion this morning is over at BlueOregon, where supporters of Merkley and Novick are already unwrapping the flamethrowers. There's nothing like a good blogstorm before lunch.

Merkley just made the front page at MyDD, and money's coming in at ActBlue ($6,700 as of 11:30 this morning).

More on the announcement from the Oregonian and Willamette Week.

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