New NRSC ad against Merkley warns of one-party rule

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new television ad Tuesday warning Oregonians that electing Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) to the U.S. Senate would bring Washington, D.C. dangerously close to one-party rule.

“History has taught us that one-party rule in Washington just doesn’t work,” the ad says. “Oregon needs an independent voice in the U.S. Senate and that’s not Jeff Merkley.”

But the NRSC does not mean to present the election of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as a foregone conclusion, said NRSC spokesman John Randall.

“We are not conceding the White House, Randall said. “Rather, we are pointing out the disastrous impact of electing an unqualified candidate like Jeff Merkley and potential partnering him with Barack Obama. It's a scenario where Oregon, especially rural Oregon, loses.”

U.S Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) has been traveling the state warning voters of the dangers of one-party rule, even though he told supporters in Oregon City he wouldn’t mind one-party rule if Republicans were in charge.

“Even after all the failures of the past years, Gordon Smith still says he wishes there was one-party rule,” Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said.  “Republican rule for the last eight years has been disastrous for our economy, for our energy policy, and for our health care system. But now their last-ditch message is don’t elect Jeff Merkley and Democrats because they will help Barack Obama change this country.”

“Gordon Smith will work to block that change,” Canter added.