Smith releases five new radio ads touting rural support

U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith released five new radio ads Monday narrated by five different Oregon leaders in  natural resource industries.

The ads are narrated by Barry Bushue, president of the Oregon Farm Bureau, Mike Pihl, star of the History Channel’s “Ax Men” show, Paul Beck, a board member of the American Forest Resource Council, Sherman Reese, former president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, and Sharon Livingston of Long Creek, former president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. They focus on issues affecting loggers, ranchers, and farmers, and cite several instances where the narrators believe Merkley voted against rural interests.

“I am proud to have leaders from rural Oregon joining me to take a stand in defending their way of life,” Senator Gordon Smith said today. “Rural Oregon needs a voice and a vote - I fight to make sure no part of this state is left behind. That is what is at stake this election.”

The ad's narrators echoe the incumbent senator's sentiment.

“We’re very lucky to have a person like Gordon Smith in Washington, D.C. to be on our side. He’s for the timber industry and he’s a man with common sense,” Pihl says in one ad. “Jeff Merkley has not voted for responsible timber management. Why on God’s green earth would he introduce a bill that would shut down Tilamook State Forest? He must not have a full concept of what we really do. He needs to spend a day with a logger.”

The ad comes on the heels of Merkley's (D-Portland) challenging Smith (R-Pendleton) to spend more time with people in rural Oregon. Merkley issued his challenge last week, asking Smith to pledge that whoever wins the election in November will hold public forums in every Oregon county every year that they are in office. After Smith shot back on Friday that he already did that, his campaign corrected him Monday morning, saying Smith did not hold a public event in every Oregon county every year.

"Gordon Smith has a real opportunity here to change his ways and become a senator who truly listens to the people of our state," said Matt Canter, spokesman for Jeff Merkley.  "Jeff Merkley has promised to hold a public forum in every Oregon county, every year.  After twelve years as an 'Absentee Senator', Smith should make the same promise.

EARLIER on PolitickerOR.com: Smith camp says Smith did not visit every county every year

Merlkey challenges Smith to commit to yearly public forums