Wow

Quite an ad from Gordon Smith:

You'd never know this guy was the Republican candidate as opposed to maybe someone running on a Democrat/Green fusion ticket or something. Bill Burton put out a statement for the Obama campaign saying: "Barack Obama has a long record of bipartisan accomplishment and we appreciate that it is respected by his Democratic and Republican colleagues in the Senate. But in this race, Oregonians should know that Barack Obama supports Jeff Merkley for Senate. Merkley will help Obama bring about the fundamental change we need in Washington."

Comments

Ha! Finally a Republican figures out how to run this year--you run on Obama's coattails! If an incumbent, you run as someone who has a history of working with Obama to break through partisan gridlock and get important legislation passed. This is genius.

Posted by Deborah | June 25, 2008 10:51 AM

Yeah... wow.

On one hand, it's a pretty ridiculous ad. But on the other, I can't help but be excited about a political environment where a Republican would run something like this.

Posted by bh | June 25, 2008 11:00 AM

What's hilarious about this ad is that Smith is the chair of McCain's campaign in Oregon.

Posted by Rulial | June 25, 2008 11:19 AM

Well, if you're a Republican in Oregon this election cycle, and have any brains at all, this is how you run.

Posted by Win | June 25, 2008 12:30 PM

Well, if MCain's Oregon co-chair is covering his tracks there? is he soon going to mention his famous Democratic Uncles, Stu and Mo? He will cover everthing because he wants to still b ein ythe senae when his cousins arrive next January

Posted by Steve | June 25, 2008 12:51 PM

Well, if MCain's Oregon co-chair is covering his tracks there? is he soon going to mention his famous Democratic Uncles, Stu and Mo? He will cover everthing because he wants to still b ein ythe senae when his cousins arrive next January

Posted by Steve | June 25, 2008 12:51 PM

This is just a more blatant version of the Schtick Smith always uses. He spends 5 years towing the party line, then during election years he starts pretending he is a progressive Republican in the Hatfield mode that has historically done well out here in Oregon. And enough people fall for it and he gets re-elected.

Posted by eric k | June 25, 2008 1:10 PM

As Steve points out above, Smith's two second-cousins are the Udalls, running as Democrats for the Senate seats in Colorado and New Mexico.

Let's hope the Udalls both make it to the Senate floor next January and leave Smith behind.

Posted by phoebes in santa fe | June 25, 2008 1:47 PM

As Steve points out above, Smith's two second-cousins are the Udalls, running as Democrats for the Senate seats in Colorado and New Mexico.

Let's hope the Udalls both make it to the Senate floor next January and leave Smith behind.

Posted by phoebes in santa fe | June 25, 2008 1:49 PM

Even in 2002, Smith ran ads like this (though obviously without the Obama mention). He used green as his color even then and never mentioned that he was a Republican who voted lockstep with George W. Bush. Now if only we had some news organization that wasn't a complete Republican tool like the Oregonian which endorsed George Bush both times, maybe someone would call Smith out on his hypocrisy and his complete out-of-touch voting record for the citizens of Oregon.

Posted by kidkostar | June 25, 2008 6:12 PM

I don't know how out of touch with the citizens of Oregon "moderate republican" is. My family that is still in Oregon will likely vote Obama and Smith.

Posted by Retief | June 26, 2008 1:29 AM

Don't forget also that Merkley was the favored candidate of Clinton voters and his primary oponent, Novick was the prefered candidate of Obama fans. Obviously a lot of Obama voters who were undecided on the senate primary broke for Merkley in the end. But Merkley's win came from strong support in the rural counties, Novick blew him out in the more liberal areas. Just as McCain is hamhandedly courting disgruntled Clinton supporters nationally, Smith is running a similar, although smoother and it seems cross-cutting vis-a-vis McCain, game, courting Oregon democrats who didn't support the winner of the primary.

Posted by Retief | June 26, 2008 1:50 AM

Senator Smith provides to us a barameter of sorts, a measure of how he and others believe the Presidential election will go.

I'm inclined to think he is right.

Posted by Burr Deming | June 28, 2008 1:14 PM

Senator Smith provides to us a barameter of sorts, a measure of how he and others believe the Presidential election will go.

I'm inclined to think he is right.

Posted by Burr Deming | June 28, 2008 1:16 PM

Senator Smith provides to us a barameter of sorts, a measure of how he and others believe the Presidential election will go.

I'm inclined to think he is right.

Posted by Burr Deming | June 28, 2008 1:16 PM