Smith '08: How soon do we need a candidate?

Kari Chisholm

As Oregonians work hard to Draft Peter DeFazio for the U.S. Senate, one question comes up again and again:

How soon does the eventual Democratic nominee need to announce?

Lurking under that question is this one: When should we start to panic?

Thanks to the good folks at Swing State Project, we've now got the data on when the 2006 candidates filed their formal statements of candidacy with the FEC.

Here's a rundown of the new Democratic Senators, all but one of whom filed the year before the election:

• Amy Klobuchar, who won the open D seat in Minnesota, filed on March 1.

• Sheldon Whitehouse, who defeated GOP Senator Lincoln Chaffee, filed on March 31.

• Bernie Sanders, the lefty independent who won the open seat in Vermont, filed on May 2.

• Jon Tester, who defeated GOP Senator Conrad Burns, filed on May 27.

• Claire McCaskill, who defeated GOP Senator Jim Talent, filed on September 13.

• Sherrod Brown, who defeated GOP Senator Mike DeWine, filed on October 18.

• Jim Webb, who defeated GOP Senator George Allen, filed on February 9, 2006.

What does this tell us?

Well, it's only April 2007 right now. And while sooner is definitely better than later in politics -- it's definitely not time to panic just yet.

Sometime this spring is preferred, but the fall is still OK. By Thanksgiving, it'll be time to panic.

Meanwhile, head on over and send a five-spot to Peter DeFazio's campaign - and attach a simple message: Run, Peter, Run!

By Kari Chisholm April 16, 2007