Oregon Public Broadcasting

Republicans are circulating a video of Democratic senate candidate Jeff Merkley stumped by a question about the foreign policy crisis between Russia and Georgia. But now Merkley has responded specifically to the conflict. Ethan Lindsey reports.

From a campaign stop in southern Oregon, Merkley says after the video of him was posted, he caught up with the news.

In the past decade, Georgia has become friendlier with the U.S. and moved closer to possible membership in the NATO military alliance.

The Senate votes on any NATO expansion, and Merkley says he would vote to let Georgia in.

Jeff Merkley: “We have to realize that the president holds the reins of foreign policy. The Senate can pass funding, it can pass resolutions, but they've got to push hard when the administration is off track.”

Republican incumbent Gordon Smith was one of the original cosponsors of a bill that begins the NATO membership process for Georgia.

By email, Smith said “A senator can and should be informed of the conflict and encourage all necessary foreign aid the application of the necessary pressures to curb Russia's aggression.”