Smith set for debate showdown with Merkley

U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) will be focusing on his bipartisan record of working across the aisle in Thursday night’s Oregon Senate debate, Smith’s campaign spokeswoman said Thursday morning.

“At a time of economic crisis, its never been more important to have bipartisan leadership that strives to public good ahead of partisan good. That is the Senator's record and that is what he will talk about,” Smith spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said.

The most recent poll shows Democrat Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) with a slight, but statistically insignificant lead in the race. There has not been a public poll on the race in the past two weeks. But during that time, the candidates have traded jabs on the financial crisis on Wall Street, taxes, gay rights, and rural issues. And several political observers, including Larry Sabato and the Rothenberg Report’s political editor Nathan Gonzales, have said the race has turned into a dead heat.

Gilbride said that having Smith and Merkley side by side would be a good chance for voters to compare the two candidates.

“The debate is an opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates and the contrast in their records,” Gilbride said.

http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2872/poll-shows-merkley-beating-smith-44-42-percent