Merkley challenges Smith to three more debates

Oregon House Speaker and U.S Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) sent a letter to Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) today challenging the incumbent senator to three more debates, for a total of eight proposed debates this fall.

“I am sure you agree with me that the people of Oregon deserve a debate on the issues and the direction of the country,” Merkley wrote in the letter to Smith. “In rural and urban communities, Oregon families, workers, and businesses are struggling and the need for change has never been greater.”

Merkley campaign spokesman Matt Canter said that Merkley has already RSVP’d to five debates, which have already been scheduled to occur in Portland, Eugene, and Forest Grove in October. But Merkley wanted more debates in rural Oregon so that all voters would have the chance to question their future senator. So he proposed three more debates to take place in Bend, Medford, and Smith’s hometown of Pendleton.

“Jeff Merkley has plans to address some of the big challenges in eastern Oregon,” Canter said, saying that Merkley would like to focus on the economic challenges to the area.  “Smith is just trying to encourage an urban-rural divide. It’s unhealthy, unproductive, and does nothing to address the serious challenges in this area.”

Smith campaign spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said Smith has yet to confirm he will be at any debates, but she did say his campaign will be working out the details with Merkley’s campaign. As to whether Smith would accept the invitation for the extra debates, Gilbride said that needed to be worked out as well, but that the idea of debating outside of the Portland-Eugene corridor would appeal to Smith.

“Senator Smith welcomes the opportunity to debate Jeff Merkley in a forum where all Oregonians can hear his message,” Gilbride said. “Our campaign just needs to sit down with Merkley’s campaign and hash out the details. That’s the next step in the process.”