Oregon Public Broadcasting

With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith is stepping up his strategy of playing up his support from Democrats.  

The two-term incumbent is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Jeff Merkley in this November’s election.  As correspondent Chris Lehman reports, Democrats think it’s just an election-year ploy.

Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith speaks at an event touting his bipartisan support.

Gordon Smith is a Republican who is supporting John McCain for President.  So you might find it odd that while ballots are tricking in to elections offices, Smith would hold a press conference with two dozen Democrats for a backdrop.

 But Democrats far outnumber Republicans in Oregon.  So Smith has been winning national attention for appearing in campaign ads playing up his connection to Democrats.  

At this event in Lake Oswego, he made the point in person.

Gordon Smith:  “No party has a monopoly on the truth or on good ideas.” 

Gil Munoz of Portland was one of the Democrats to go public in support of Smith.  The health care administrator wore an Obama/Biden button to the event.  

Munoz says he’s not bothered by Smith’s record in the Senate, where Democrats accuse him of voting with the Bush administration most of the time.

Gil Munoz:  “On the critical issues that have been impacting Oregon, Senator Smith is not an extremist.”

But statements like that generate consternation among hard-core Democrats.

Across the parking lot at this suburban office complex, a group of Democrats held signs in support of Smith’s opponent, Jeff Merkley.  

The demonstration was organized by the Democratic Party of Oregon.  Party Chair Meredith Wood Smith says she was dumbfounded that Democrats would choose to publicly support Gordon Smith.

Meredith Wood Smith:  “I wonder why people choose to do that. I wonder what that accomplishes.  Obviously there’s some reason for that and I just think it’s unfortunate that they want to make that kind of a statement.”

Democrats accused Gordon Smith of making nice during an election year.  They predict Smith will swing back to the right if he’s re-elected.