Oregon: Nrsc

A new ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee was airing on Oregon television stations Tuesday morning accusing U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) of sponsoring legislation to get rid of the kicker tax refund.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new ad Monday that accuses U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) of allocating tax dollars to an organization that he was the executive director of.

“When it comes to feeding his own self interest, Jeff Merkley is an expert,” the ad says, as it replays the now infamous video of Merkley caught on tape and off guard on the escalating conflict in Georgia while he was eating a hot dog.

Jeff Merkley’s campaign spokesman Matt Canter blasted the National Republican Senatorial Committee Tuesday for straying from the issues in its ad, the national group's first foray into Oregon's Senate race.

“Rather than talk about the solutions, they attack Jeff Merkley for his less-than-country-club table manners,” Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said. “Gordon Smith never stood up to George W. Bush on his Russia policy. He must have had confidence that George W. Bush could see into Putin’s soul.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) was trying to change who he is by running ads talking about all the work he had accomplished in tandem with Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and John Kerry.

"Gordon Smith is one of the least popular Republican incumbents," Schumer said. "And he is trying to change who he. He runs more commercials with Barack Obama and John Kerry than he does with George W. Bush and John McCain."