In the race for the Democratic Senate nomination in Oregon, Portland attorney Steve Novick is running as the decided underdog. He trails House Speaker Jeff Merkley in money raised, institutional support and endorsements from prominent Oregon Democratic organizations.

Still, let no one say that Novick is out of the race. He's certainly got creativity wrapped up, as his latest television ad demonstrates:

Challengers low in the polls and off the mainstream radar screen are frequently overlooked and forced to do something off the wall to raise their profiles. Most of the time, the gambits don't work. Occasionally, though, they launch a candidate's unlikely success: Think Paul Wellstone's fantastic ads during his inaugural Senate race in Minnesota. Can Gordon Smith open a beer with his hook? We don't think so.