Oregon GOPer’s TV Ad Touts Work with Obama

ABC News’ James Gerber and Teddy Davis Report: Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith has launched a second this week touting his work with Democrat Barack Obama on better gas mileage, the latest in a series of T.V. spots designed to distance the incumbent senator from his own party as he faces a tough re-election battle against Democrat Jeff Merkley, Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Watch it here.

Smith’s new ad also cites having worked with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the Democratic Party’s 2004 presidential nominee, to protect homeowners.

It’s an illustration of how some Republicans are trying to cope with an anti-GOP environment.

The new ad began airing state-wide on broadcast cable on Thursday. Here is the script:

Sen. Gordon Smith: "Times are tough. Rising prices on gas, food, health care. Families need help. That’s why I choose to reach across the aisle. With John Kerry to protect homeowners from foreclosure, with Barack Obama for better gas mileage. And when President Bush tried to cut Medicaid, the Oregon health plan, I said no. What matters is helping people, not who gets the credit. I’m Gordon Smith, and I approve this ad."

Though Kerry and Smith worked together on housing legislation, the Massachusetts Democrat issued a statement arguing that they are at odds on health-care reform and protecting "a woman’s right to privacy."

"Gordon Smith is my friend," said Kerry in a statement released by Merkley’s campaign, "but the problem is that when it’s come time to vote in the Senate he’s been a much better friend of George Bush."

Back in June, Smith launched his first ad touting his work with Obama on tougher mileage standards.

"Who says Gordon Smith helped lead the fight for better gas mileage and a cleaner environment?" asked the ad’s narrator. "Barack Obama. He joined with Gordon and broke through a 20-year deadlock to pass new laws which increase gas mileage for automobiles."

At the time, Obama’s campaign seized on the ad to burnish the Illinois Democrat’s record of working across the aisle. Obama spokesman Bill Burton was quick to add, however, that Obama is backing Merkley, the Democratic candidate.

"Barack Obama has a long record of bipartisan accomplishment and we appreciate that it is respected by his Democratic and Republican colleagues in the Senate," said Burton. "But in this race, Oregonians should know that Barack Obama supports Jeff Merkley for Senate."

The Merkley campaign acknowledges that Smith worked with Obama in 2007 on fuel efficiency standards. They note, however, that he voted against similar legislation in 2002, 2003, and 2005.

"It’s all an attempt to pretend he’s something that he’s not, which is moderate and bipartisan," said Merkley campaign spokesman Matt Canter.

The Smith campaign brushed off Merkley’s criticisms and argued that voters will focus on what the Republican incumbent got done in 2007.

"This week’s ad highlights Gordon Smith’s accomplished record of reaching across the isle to fight for the people of Oregon on issues that make a real difference in families’ lives," said Smith campaign spokesman Lindsey Gilbride.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee responded to Smith’s ad by going after him for accepting nearly $300,000 in campaign contributions over the years from individuals who work in the oil and gas industries and accusing Smith of being a "friend of Big Oil." The ad went on the air Friday on broadcast cable across the state of Oregon.

Watch it here.

Neither the Smith campaign nor the DSCC would reveal the size of their respective ad buys.