Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Oregon Senate debate was for the most part a display of two seasoned, well polished politicians. However, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) came up with the one noticeable gaff of the night.

"I met Sarah Palin once," Smith said. "She's a lovely person, she's a great governor of California."

Smith was answering a question asked by Jeff Mapes of the Oregonian regarding whether he thought Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, was prepared to be president of the United States. Republicans have pushed the idea that Palin, the governor of Alaska, has extensive governing experience after being her state's chief executive.

"Governor Schwarzenegger is going to be very surprised to find he's been succeeded by Governor Palin," Smith's challenger, Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), said.

PORTLAND – About 30 people lined Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard outside of the Portland Convention Center Friday to protest U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s economic policies they say have hurt the economy and sent Oregon jobs overseas.

PORTLAND -- No Arnold? No problem. U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) still held his lunchtime fundraiser at the Portland Convention Center Friday, despite the fact that featured speaker Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) was unable to attend.

Oregon Democrats will still turn out to protest a lunchtime fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendelton) in Portland Friday, despite the announcement that featured speaker Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) will not be in attendance.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Governor's Office PhotoGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has canceled his appearance at a U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) fundraiser in Portland on Friday, the AP is reporting.

According to the article, a spokeswoman for Smith said Schwarzenegger is unable to attend because of the budget crisis in California.  

The next Attorney General might see a bump in his paycheck, Arnold backs out on Smith and the Peace Party may bring Ralph Nader's dream of Oregon candidacy to a reality. Here are this week's Winners & Losers.

At the very least, both the Merkley and Smith campaigns will likely keep us well entertained for the next three months.

If you have a spare $1000 hiding somewhere between the sofa pillows you too can attend the upcoming fundraiser for U.S. Senator Gordon Smith with special guest California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The 76 gas station in southeast Portland, where a gallon of regular gas is going for $4.04, was the site where Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) was to announce his plans lower the price of gas on Tuesday.

State Sen. Doug WhitsettAs President Bush and Washington, D.C., lawmakers debate lifting the ban on offshore drilling, state Sen. Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls) came out in support of offshore drilling and chastised Gov. Ted Kulongoski for not doing the same.