The race to unseat Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) is getting really interesting...

[stevedeshazer]

The guy I'm working for, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D) has pulled ahead in Oregon's Senate race.

http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/08/quick-hits-and.html



This is a shit-hot Senate race, and Gordon Smith is in deep trouble here. The ads have been running for a month already, unheard of in Oregon.

And Oregon's Independent Party, the state's third largest, has endorsed Merkley. That's huge given that close to 30% of Oregon voters are registered as independent.

We've got a real shot here for a Democratic gain in the Senate.

Sixty, anyone? :)

[PBS Poll-435]

1. God I hope so. The fact that Oregon has a Pube in the Senate is a disgrace!

I say that as a native Oregonian.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Yes, and Gordon Smith is no Mark Hatfield, either

I worked on Bradbury's 2002 campaign to unseat Gordo, so I'm delighted to see somebody finally succeeding.

[stevedeshazer]

4. He sure pretends to be Hatfield.

You wouldn't believe the ads...they're EVERYWHERE.

I think the jig is up for Smith...too many pro-Bush votes.

Merkley is running a good campaign based on the accomplishments of the Legislature.

Yeah, we took that back from the R's in 2006. That Republican nonsense in the Ledge is over now.

Hope Coleman loses in Minnesota. That would sure help!

[Danieljay]

3. Oh God. Let be true. n/t

[file83]

5. Central Oregonian checking in...Smith has got to go!

[Pastiche423]

6. Gordo's ads are really pathetic

His "I enjoy working across the aisle" bs is just that. And it sure doesn't jive w/his MegaVote record.

Maybe...

[Beregond2]

7. I'll miss Smith's ads.

They are the funniest thing on TV. He has done everything but use Photoshopped pictures of he and Obama in bed together. He's made a complete fool of himself.

[gratuitous]

8. Smith hasn't polled above 50% yet?

That's bad news for any incumbent. I hope Merkley gets some TV time going soon. The DSCC ads have been pretty good at reminding people that Smith poses as a Democrat for four months every six years, but I want to see some ads touting Merkley.

And if the original poster has any pull in the campaign, please get the word out that while Jeff Merkley, as president of the Oregon Senate, raised taxes, it's because by law he's required to balance the state budget. Smith is under no such constraint when it comes to the federal budget. So when old Gordon wants to back an illegal invasion and keep it running for longer than World War II, he can just get our great and good friends the Chinese to buy up some more federal debt. Taxes, schmaxes! Just run record deficits, right Gordon?

[anitar1]

9. I know that Eugene will vote Merkley . Just can't bear to think

that Gordie will be able to hang on. He has to go ! Just another Bushbot.