Smith Camp responds to Merkley speech at DNC

U.S. Senator Gordon Smith's (R-Pendleton) campaign responded to Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley's (D-Portland) convention speech Wednesday saying that Merkley only managed to affirm to Oregonians that he would be very partisan if he was elected to senate.

"Jeff Merkley aired his divisive partisanship loud and clear today," Smith campaign spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said.

According to Gilbride, Smith has spent the week campaigning in Oregon, before he has to return to Washington D.C. for Senate work in September.

"While Merkley's enjoying parties with out-of-state special interests in Denver, Gordon Smith is focused at home, out on the campaign trail talking to voters - Doctors, loggers, construction workers - about the issues that matter most to them," Gilbride said.

Smith will remain in Oregon and will not be attending the Republican National Convention, which starts in St. Paul, Minn. on Monday.