MEDFORD -- During Monday's night debate, both Oregon Senate candidates were asked what they regretted most during the campaign, and U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) acknowledged that one of the outside groups helping him went too far with one of its attack ad.

Smith recalled an ad created by the National Republican Senatorial Committee that showed his opponent, Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), being caught unaware of a foreign policy crisis in Georgia. Merkley was in the process of eating a hot dog when the exchange occurred, and the NRSC made use of the footage in several ads.

"I regret the tone of campaign," Smith said. "I regret all of the money flooding into Oregon. The Republican Senatorial Committee ran a commercial with Jeff Merkley eating a hot dog. Jeff Merkley is a good person. I think I am a good person too. I would not belittle someone like that. I'm sorry we ran that kind of ad."

Merkley acknowledged Smith's statement of regret and also acknowledged that the cameraman did catch him in a moment of weakness.

"Gordon, you really did get it nailed on that hot dog ad," Merkley said. "I really do love hot dogs."