Oregon Public Broadcasting

On paper, Oregon’s race for U.S. Senate doesn’t look close. Fundraising and polling numbers both favor incumbent, Ron Wyden over Republican challenger, Jim Huffman.

It’s a situation some political observers say is regrettable, because Huffman holds some promise. Rob Manning reports on this year’s race for U.S. Senate.

Many Oregon voters are just meeting Jim Huffman now, through his political ads on television --

TV Ad: “More bad news as Senator Wyden votes for another bailout....”

and radio --

Radio Ad: “With unemployment at 10.7 percent, career politicians like Ron Wyden, only seem interested in protecting one job -- their own.”

But you might notice -- they're mostly about Ron Wyden. Huffman speaks at the end.

Jim Huffman: “I invite you to join me, Jim Huffman, candidate for U.S. Senate. And I approved this message.”

Huffman’s background is as a Lewis and Clark law professor. He’s on leave while he campaigns for Senate.

He and Wyden have similarities – they’re both Portlanders, and they share a keen interest in somewhat obtuse aspects of federal law.

Sometimes they even agree. They’re both critical of so-called “secret holds” – a practice that allows U.S. Senators to block legislation anonymously.

Wyden attacked the practice in a speech on the Senate floor last week.

Ron Wyden: “For a dozen years, trying every way we could, to establish the principle that the U.S. Senate would do public business, in public!”

Huffman agrees with the “public business in public” principle, but he criticizes Wyden for not banning the practice.

Jim Huffman: “He’s been trying to do this for 13 years, and hasn’t gotten it done. So, another example of ineffectiveness on his part.”

Wyden counters that “secret holds” legislation would be law already if not for the actions of one Republican senator, whom Wyden says Huffman emulates.

Huffman’s broader point is that Wyden’s attempts at bipartisanship haven’t produced results.

Jim Huffman: “You know, he’s got a current tax bill that he’s proposed with Senator Gregg from New Hampshire. He’s got a healthcare bill with Bennett from Utah. But these are bills that have gone nowhere, and no one expects to go anywhere.”

Wyden says the tax legislation Huffman mentioned got a hearing last week, and is moving. And in recent years, he got Republican help on the Mount Hood wilderness bill. And he’s especially proud of getting Congress to spend billions for rural counties, where timber revenue has dried up.

Ron Wyden: “I’m the author of what’s called the Secure Rural Schools legislation, it’s the timber payments bill. It’s brought to Oregon more than two-point-four billion dollars over the last few years.”

Wyden voted in favor of two of the Obama Administration’s high-profile laws: the healthcare overhaul and the economic stimulus. Wyden says he made sure they’d work for Oregon.

Ron Wyden: “The Recovery Act brought investments in Oregon’s new energy economy, like the new biofuels plant in Boardman. On the health legislation, I was able to add a state waiver provision, so that Oregon or any state, can develop its own model for reform, based on what works best for us.”

Huffman argues that Wyden’s support for bills like healthcare and the stimulus bill show the senator is out of step with the state. Huffman says on the economy, especially, the Democrats have it wrong.

Jim Huffman: “I think Wyden reflects the view that government creates jobs, and I reflect the view that private enterprise creates jobs.”

Huffman has the backing of some prominent Republicans, like former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, who donated $5000 to Huffman, this month.

Oregon’s former Republican labor commissioner, Jack Roberts, likes him, too.

Jack Roberts: “Jim Huffman is one of the best candidates we’ve run for any office, as far as I’m concerned.”

But in the same breath, Roberts, who now runs an economic development agency, praises Senator Wyden, too.

Jack Roberts: “Frankly, and I say this as a Republican, he’s been a good incumbent. He has surprised me at his ability to reach out around the state, and take much more moderate positions than he did as a congressman just representing Portland.”

That message of bipartisanship is a theme in Wyden’s ad campaign. In this one, a timber executive talking about a compromise Wyden helped broker with environmentalists.

Campaign ad: “We’re lucky to have a leader who can bring two warring sides together. Our forests and our economy depend on Senator Wyden’s bill.”

“I’m Ron Wyden, and I approved this message.”

“Paid for by Wyden for Senate.”

According to campaign finance numbers released in June, Wyden was burying Huffman in fundraising by a margin of $4.5 million to $750,000. More than half of Huffman’s total is a loan he made to himself.

But Huffman says he recently returned from Washington, D.C. where he met with Republican Senate leaders, to to draw the party's attention and financial support. He says his race is one of 10 or 12 that national leaders are focused on.

Jim Huffman: “There are some that are higher on their radar screen because they’re closer in the polling, but I think this is seen as one that has possibilities.”

A recent poll Huffman referenced had him down as much as 16 points. He says if he can cut that to ten, he could attract national money

Wyden and Huffman have set two debates for the middle of October, one at the Portland City Club, which will be broadcast on OPB Radio. The other will air on television in Medford.