GOP Senator Gordon Smith Facing New Democratic Challenger
Uh, oh -- looks like GOP Senator Gordon Smith may be facing a new Democratic challenger: Oregon House speaker Jeff Merkley.
Smith is vulnerable to a 2008 challenge in larger part because of Iraq, though he is not a member of the GOP WINO caucus, having voted in favor of withdrawal timetables. The question now is whether his votes in favor of withdrawal will cancel out his previous support of the war and the generally dismal level of popularity the GOP brand is enjoying these days.
From the Associated Press:
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley plans to file notice with the Federal Election Commission by Aug. 1 that he'll be running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Gordon Smith, two sources close to the campaign told The Associated Press Tuesday.Merkley is on vacation in Central Oregon with his family this week, and wants to consult with them one last time before making the final, firm decision to challenge Smith, according to a strategist who has been advising Merkley.
"He could come back and say, 'We've decided that we are just not ready for this," the strategist said. "I strongly believe that is not going to happen."
Oregon is a Democratic-leaning state, and Merkley, a Portland Dem who led the Democratic takeover of the Oregon House last year, appears to be a top choice of national Democrats, who have been searching for a high-profile challenger to Smith for months now.
National Dems unsuccessfully tried to recruit U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio to challenge Smith, but that fell through. Merkley has been meeting with freshman Dem Senators around the country, all of whom are encouraging him to run.
Good news. Senate Dems should continue to lock up the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes and West coast, and fight hard in the Midwest/Great Plains, Mountain West and Southwest.
We should do what we can in Senate races in the South, but given the money each race takes to win, it just can't be the focus of our resources. Even very good candidates taking pretty conservative positions can't seem to get over the top there. (Think Tennessee or Oklahoma.)
July 25, 2007 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is obviously spam and I feel stupid posting after the very pertinent analysis by the two above posters, but I hast have to say it:
"...A CHALLENGER APPEARS!"
With apologies to the non-nerd.
July 25, 2007 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
This could get very interesting. The State Legislature just wrapped up, and ended up doing some pretty good things (even under budget). This is in sharp contrast to the last few sessions which had budget problems, school closures, teacher strikes, nurses strikes, etc.
Oregon is a Democratic-leaning state, but it is by no means a Democratic-strong state. Kerry only got 54% of the vote in 2004 [Edit: Actually, Kerry only got 51% of the vote], and we've outlawed gay marriages by 57% of voters.
I think what you'll see here is an interesting combination of the local and the national politics at play. Especially since a spate of republican-esque measures have passed the last few years, and are turning up to be quite unpopular.
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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.
Come visit PROJECT: Lucidity.
July 25, 2007 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
As someone that goes to school in Oregon, I would have to mention that Smith is somewhat popular in Oregon, and is not thought of as part of the Republican establishment. He also has been staunchly anti war since november. I think it would've taken the candidacy of stronger pols such as Defazio or Blumenauer, who both at one point thought of throwing their hats into the ring, to take down Smith.
July 25, 2007 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink