So, its dead in here

[quakerboy]

Why are there so few polls on Oregon? Ive noticed the ad's kicking in of late, and getting a little down and dirty.

And while I am at it, where are the Merkely yard signs and bumper stickers? In a state where Obama leads, why is the democratic candidate apparently at such a disadvantage?

[LWolf]

1. I haven't seen any signs yet.

A couple of bumper stickers, region-wide; 2 for Obama, one for McCain.

Merkely will get some support from my side of the Cascades, but not enough to win. He'll need the west side to take it.

I've seen quite a few ads; to be honest, I thought that Smith's ads were more effective. Some of the earlier ads for Merkely...the tone of voice was off-putting. The most recent has been better.

I hope people aren't casting their ballots based on smarmy campaign commercials on tv, but I'm sure some will. I have hope for Merkely.

Little hope, unfortunately, for the guy challenging Walden. Walden's ads are on; he presents himself as a reasonable moderate. His challenger, Noah Lemas? I've heard nothing. I'm going to vote for the guy, and he's so silent that I keep forgetting his name and having to go look it up. I did hear him interviewed on local community radio a few months back.

[classof56]

2. Yeah, it's Gordon Smith Country on the east side, that's a fact.

I'll support and vote for Merkley and also Walden's opponent. What is his name?? :-) One thing's for sure: I'll never vote for another R. Makes me sad, because Tom McCall was a hero of mine, but I'm guessing we'll not see his like again. He was truly a Man to Match our Mountains!

Peace

[LWolf]

6. Walden's opponent is Noah somebody.

He's so silent I have to keep looking up his name, even though I've done so repeatedly. :blush:

Noah Lemas. Here's his website:

http://lemasforcongress.wordpress.com/

I'm curious, now that school is back in session and I'm back to work, to hear the election buzz. My little school is rural, and I know that last spring the big excitement was Clinton vs Obama; even here, in republican country, very few defend Bush, and nobody was talking about McCain. Of course, that's just middle school students, but they tend to parrot what they are getting from home, community, and church.

If they are still talking up Obama, perhaps there's enough support for Merkely, at least, to ride his coattails. He gets votes from both sides of the mountains. I doubt Lemas can defeat Walden. Voisin, in '06, was much more active, and it didn't help her. No time like the present to try, though!

[doubleplusgood]

3. Merkely has run awful ads

OK, this is coming from a Steve Novick supporter, but the Merkely ads I've seen have been mostly negative attack ads on Smith. Yeah, they're OK, but the few positive ads for Merkely have been uninspired, to say the least.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

4. Fact is, Smith is more moderate than most

He still votes with the Republican party line the majority of the time, but he's not exactly a hellfire and brimstone Senator, nor is he advocating a Christian jihad in the Middle East. Were he a hard-line right winger, Merkley would win easily (Smith would have been ousted long ago).

[sandnsea]

7. Fact is, Smith lies just like the rest of them

He votes right along with Republicans until it gets close to the election, and then he switches. He's playing this state for fools.

[quakerboy]

8. Fact is

He doesn't have to advocate for Christian Jihad so long as he continues to vote for it at every opportunity. And to protect those who do advocate for it.

Just because he isn't the pack leader does not mean he will hesitate to tear every Oregonian limb from limb.

[BlueIris]

5. Merkely will lose because the GOP voters just aren't ready to let go of Smith.

Sad, but true. Smith's smarmy-but-manageable image helps them validate their sick beliefs.

[dhpgetsit]

9. Smith vs Merkely

It has been a very negative campaign, and unfortunately Merkley's in not nearly as well funded as Smith's.

I think he also has a disadvantage in the charisma department. Smith is constantly taking advantage of his good looks and "honest face".

But trust me though, Smith's attack ads are packed with outright lies. And he is not nearly as moderate as he and the Oregonian would like you to think.

Merkely is by far the better choice.