In the spirit of the holidays, Sen.-elect Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) is giving back by asking his supporters to give a little more.

Merkley released a fundraising letter on Thursday that encouraged supporters to donate to the re-election campaign of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D), a man who became a key ally of Merkley’s on Capitol Hill during the Oregon Speaker’s 2008 successful race against Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.).

Reid, who is up in 2010 in the swing state of Nevada, is expected to be a top target for Republicans in what might otherwise be a tough Senate field for the GOP next cycle. Reid is facing voters for the first time since becoming Majority Leader and coming under a national spotlight for helping to shape his party’s agenda on Capitol Hill.

In his letter Thursday, Merkley states that “the election was just one month ago and the extreme right wing is already gearing up to attack Harry. I hope you will act today to make sure their attack strategy doesn’t work.”

Merkley adds that the “critical” December Federal Election Commission fundraising deadline is just a few weeks away and that “with a big show of support, we can let Republicans know that Harry Reid is going to have the resources he needs to win in 2010.”