05/10/2008

Associated Press

Democratic Senate hopeful Jeff Merkley on Friday charged Republican incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith with trying to throw the primary to Merkley's Democratic rival, as Smith's campaign began airing an attack ad that took sole and direct aim at Merkley.

In the ad, Smith criticizes Merkley's decision to continue fund-raising for his U.S. Senate race while the Legislature was in session in February. Merkley, who is the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, did not accept contributions from lobbyists or people with direct interests before the Legislature, but did continue raising money for his federal race.

"It is almost unprecedented for a Republican to try and insert himself into a Democratic primary and handpick his opponent," said Matt Canter, a spokesman for Merkley. "Gordon Smith needs to stay out of this Democratic primary and stop lying about Jeff Merkley's record. And all the while, he was taking money in Washington, D.C. from special interests and lobbyists."

Merkley is vying for the Democratic nomination with Portland lawyer and activist Steve Novick. Public polls have suggested that the two are neck-and-neck in the race, though Merkley has more money and the support of most of the Democratic establishment.

R.C. Hammond, a spokesman for Smith, said Merkley was the first to go on the attack on television against Smith, with an ad that contrasted his own modest background with Smith's more privileged upbringing.

"Jeff Merkley is the candidate who made a political attack based on a member of Senator Smith's family," Hammond said. "When you attack Senator Smith's family, you can expect an attack in response."

Hammond also pointed out that a previous ad aired by the Smith campaign had dinged Novick for his stance on taxation and steadfast support of government programs.