Oregon Public Broadcasting

The candidates in the Oregon U.S. Senate held their first debate Thursday.  

Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley and incumbent Republican Gordon Smith traded barbs in a televised forum sponsored by Portland television station KGW and the Oregonian newspaper.  

The two criticized each other’s records on taxes, the economy, and global warming.

Merkley said that even though Smith is now against the war in Iraq, his vote helped send troops overseas in the first place.

Merkley:  “Gordon Smith gave Bush a blank check on war and now we have 4100 Americans who have paid the ultimate price.”

Smith pointed out that in the Oregon House, Merkley voted for a resolution in support of the war.  

 Merkley said that vote was in support of the troops.

Both candidates bemoaned the number of attack ads in the race.  But both claimed the bulk of the negativity was coming from outside organizations.  

Smith and Merkley will next debate on Monday evening in Medford.