Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) ad touts ties to Obama, and Democrats protest

[rndmprsn]

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/06/sen_gordon_smith_ad_touts_ties.html

Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, stepping up his efforts to run from his Republican roots in his advertising, on Tuesday released a new TV commercial (video after the jump) that promotes his ties to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Smith's effort to enlist Obama's name in his advertising was met with protests from Democrats, but the McCain campaign said it wasn't concerned that it would hurt their candidate in Oregon....

...A spokesman for Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, Smith's Democratic rival, denounced the ad, saying that Obama never said Smith was helping lead the fight on these issues. "What Barack Obama did say was that Gordon Smith has rarely broken from George Bush and the Republican agenda that has done this country great damage," said Merkley aide Matt Canter.

The Obama campaign released a statement reiterating that the Democratic presidential candidate is supporting Merkley in the Senate race.

[KingFlorez]

1. I have a problem with this too

After all the nasty attacks the Republicans have thrown at Obama, one of them has the nerve to try to use his to save his own sorry tail.

[izquierdista]

2. Merkley should welcome him

He shouldn't protest, but offer him a staff position if Smith wants to run away from the Republicans. Way to put the shoe on the other foot and humiliate him at the same time.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Yeah, they're really going overboard.

His ads feature "democrats" who are voting for Smith because he led the fight against Bush and the Republicans.

It's funny shit, when you get right down to it. The only hope Republicans have is tricking people into thinking they're Democrats.