PHILADELPHIA — Sen. Jeff Merkley said he fears the clock is running out to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump.

“I'm worried about it being a conversation that carries us on to the primaries of next year. I think the time is now,” the Oregon Democrat said Friday at the Netroots Nation annual conference.

Merkley urged the Democrat-led House to begin impeachment proceedings even if the Senate, which has a Republican majority, does not hold a trial or convict Trump.

“It’s a moral obligation and such an important foundation for our nation. We cannot allow a president to walk all over the law and simply walk away,” Merkley said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far opposed an impeachment inquiry into Trump, believing it could be risky for Democrats in the upcoming election.

A Gallup poll released earlier this month showed 45% of U.S. adults believe Trump should be impeached based on the findings from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, while 53% oppose impeachment.