Merkley would definitely be just fine by my book----
He has proven extremely adept at representing the interests of Oregonians from small mill-towns and rural areas, and still performing well in the "New Democratic" coalition upper-income areas of SW-Portland, Lake Oswego, and Washington County.
As a strong economic progressive with a populist streak, he has proven that he can be a bridge between the two different wings of the modern Dem Party coalition, while also appealing to Independent voters and Moderate Republicans.
I could easily see him standing toe-to-toe with Trump on economic policy and trade imbalances, and unlike many Democratic and Republican politicians representing the "working-class" shtick to pander to voters, he doesn't need to do that since it comes naturally from the roots of his raising as a "Southern Oregon Boy".
Unlike Bernie, he doesn't have the "age issue", and unlike Warren he doesn't have the image of being a stereotypical "Coastal Elite Wealthy Liberal", and should be able to play relatively well in both the Heartlands (Midwest) as well as rural and small town America alike....
Now what are the chances from a two term Senator from a relatively small and unknown state being able to capture the imagination of the Party Base and make it through the guantlet of a competitive open primary? Obama did pretty well in '08 and Bernie took it close to the finish line in '16, so I wouldn't rule Merkley out if he chooses to run in the primaries and goes onto the General Election....
Will he be able to raise enough money and enthusiasm to take on whomever the "Democratic Establishment" chooses to back and coronate before a single vote has ever been cast in the primaries--- idk?
