[img_assist|nid=2851|title=Senate candidate Jeff Merkley|desc=Campaign Photo|link=none|align=left|width=175|height=175]The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new ad Friday that attempts to tie Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Merkley’s actions in Salem to the corruption in Washington, D.C.

“Our economy in trouble, Wall Street and Washington gambling with our money and piling up more government debt,” the ad says. “In Salem, with Jeff Merkley as speaker of the house, the story isn’t any better.”

The ad accuses Merkley of increasing state government, borrowing and spending, as well as racking up an additional billion dollars in debt.

“Just like Washington, Merkley borrows our money and mortgages our future,” the ad says.

Calls to Merkley’s campaign were not immediately returned, but they were quick to send out a release calling the ad, “hilarious.” They pointed out that Washington, D.C. was in fact gambling with taxpayer money, and that federal government spending doubled while Merkley’s opponent, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton), was in office.

Merkley’s campaign also said that Merkley balanced Oregon’s budget and created the state’s first rainy day fund.