From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oregon Senate Election of 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008. Republican Senator Gordon Smith is seeking re-election. He will be opposed by Democrat Jeff Merkley, the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives. Smith is the only Republican Senator from the west coast and the only Republican currently holding statewide office in Oregon. This Senate contest may be one of the most competitive Senate races during the 2008 United States Senate election.[1].[2]
[edit] Candidates
[edit] Democratic
In the Democratic primary, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley defeated activist Steve Novick in a close race.[3]
[edit] Republican
Incumbent Gordon Smith faced retired ophthalmologist Gordon Leitch in the Republican primary and defeated him by a wide margin.
[edit] Independent Party
On September 12, 2007, John Frohnmayer announced that he would run as an independent for Smith's seat.[5] He later became the nominee of the newly-formed Independent Party of Oregon.[citation needed] An Affiliate Professor of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University, he is perhaps best known as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts under President George H. W. Bush, when he was asked to resign amid controversy surrounding public funding of provocative artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe.[6]
On June 10, 2008, Frohnmayer dropped out of the Senate race, citing fundraising problems.[7]
[edit] Polling
[edit] Approval Ratings of Smith
| Source |
Date |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Undecided |
| Survey USA |
December 20, 2006 |
56% |
33% |
11% |
| Survey USA |
January 24, 2007 |
58% |
30% |
12% |
| Survey USA |
February 22, 2007 |
48% |
38% |
14% |
| Survey USA |
March 20, 2007 |
50% |
40% |
9% |
| Survey USA |
April 25, 2007 |
51% |
41% |
8% |
| Survey USA |
May 24, 2007 |
48% |
39% |
13% |
| Survey USA |
June 19, 2007 |
47% |
45% |
9% |
| Survey USA |
July 25, 2007 |
48% |
43% |
9% |
| Survey USA |
August 21, 2007 |
46% |
44% |
11% |
| Survey USA |
October 19, 2007 |
49% |
42% |
9% |
| Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee |
November 5, 2007 |
33% |
49% |
18% |
| Survey USA |
November 20, 2007 |
52% |
38% |
10% |
| Survey USA |
December 23, 2007 |
50% |
38% |
13% |
| Survey USA |
February 22, 2008 |
48% |
43% |
9% |
| Survey USA |
March 20, 2008 |
50% |
42% |
8% |
| Survey USA |
April 28, 2008 |
50% |
40% |
10% |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/01/ratings_chart_2008_senate_race.html
- ^ Kate Phillips, G.O.P. Leader Maps Senate Elections The New York Times, June 13, 2008
- ^ Walsh, Edward. "Merkley scores chance to take on Smith", The Oregonian, 2008-05-21. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ a b Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division. Oregon Secretary of State (2008-05-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Stanchak, Jessie (September 12, 2007). Well-Known Independent Candidate Joins Oregon Senate Race. CQPolitics.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-12.
- ^ "Headliners: Out of the Picture", The New York Times, February 23, 1992. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
- ^ Frohnmayer drops out of Ore. Senate race. OregonLive.com (2008-06-10). Retrieved on 2008-06-10.
[edit] External links
