DSCC: Smith hearts Wall Street, Bush and oil companies

U.S. Sen. Gordon SmithThe Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a new ad Friday mocking Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith for his connections to Wall Street, oil companies and the current presidential administration.

The ad comes despite the fact that voters expressed frustration at both Smith and U.S Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) for the amount of negative advertising on television that is revolving around the Oregon senate campaign at a debate for the candidates Thursday night.

The latest ad creates a guest list for those the DSCC believes Smith would invite if he was throwing a party. The DSCC even creates pretend invitations for the guests. The invitations vary. One invitation says Gordon Smith hearts Wall Street, for what the DSCC says are his attempts to privatize social security. Another invitation says Gordon Smith hearts President Bush, because, the DSCC says, Smith votes in accordance with the current president 85 percent of the time. A third says Gordon Smith hearts Big Oil executives, in reference to some of Smith’s energy votes.

“Gordon Smith has catered to special interests for years while slamming the door on average Oregonians,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Oregonians want a senator who will put them first, not the special interests.”

Smith's campaign spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said that it was unfortunate that the Merkley campaign and its helpers were continuing with the negative ad campaign.

"Last night Gordon Smith offered to take down his negative ads if Jeff Merkley would, and Merkley refused," Gilbride said.  "The Merkley campaign and their special interests are obviously continuing with their negative ad campagin."