Republican Senator Gordon Smith must be getting tired of running from his right wing Republican record. Right now, he's skipping the Republican National Convention, ostensibly to campaign here in Oregon- a see-through alibi, given that Smith's idea of campaigning is purchasing millions in TV ads and holding the occasional pancake breakfast for diehard loyalists.
However, Smith may soon be in a bind, as Oregon Republicans are inviting last-minute nominee Sarah Palin to raise cash in Oregon. Will Smith suddenly have to be back in Washington for pressing business? After all, he's already snubbed more than one McCain fundraiser here in Oregon, and Palin is, if anything, more toxic than McCain, given her complete lack of qualifications and hardcore right wing beliefs.
Crossposted at Sandstorm.
Not that Smith is any moderate, having voted with George Bush over 90% of the time during much of his time in the Senate. It's just that he doesn't want Oregonians to know it.
Oregon is a blue state- 4 out of 5 congressional representatives are Dems, both the state house and senate are Democratic, as are all of our statewide officials. Gordon Smith knows it, and he is terrified.
It seems Oregonians are starting to get it, too. Smith's disapproval rating is the highest it's ever been- well over half of Oregonians disapprove of the job he's doing in the Senate.
Will Gordon Smith stand by Palin and McCain's side? Maybe not, but maybe it doesn't matter.
Of course, it wasn't always this way. Take a look back at 2004: