The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

's campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Gordon Smith by badmouthing his Capitol Hill colleague. "He said he'd help raise money and he'd support Bradbury, but he wouldn't go negative," says a staffer on the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "And that's a problem. We're going to McAuliffe about it." /p>

In early polls, Smith has a strong lead on Bradbury, but the DNC has targeted Smith as a possible weak link in the 2002 incumbent races, and has indicated to state party officials that it will contribute perhaps $1 million if it will unseat Smith. "It's worse than Wyden not wanting to go all the way for the party, because Smith is actually using his friendship with Wyden as a campaign tool," says the DSCC aide. "It's embarrassing us."

Smith has been quoted in Oregon papers as saying that having him and Wyden in the Senate makes for a good team and that a split delegation is good for Oregonians. A picture of Smith and Wyden together might run in future Smith TV spots.

"Senator Wyden isn't sitting on the sidelines," says a Wyden staffer in Oregon. "He's working hard for Mr. Bradbury. But he considers Senator Smith a friend and he's not going to slam the man for political gain. It's not his style."

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