Merkley goes negative in new ad

Sen. Jeff Merkley (R-Ore.) is going negative in a new ad, tying Republican opponent Monica Wehby to the national GOP.

{mosads}“National Republicans want Monica Wehby in Washington, D.C.,” a narrator says in the ad over a shot of Wehby along with Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, “because Wehby can’t name one part of their agenda she disagrees with.”

The ad points to an Oregonian piece in which Wehby couldn’t offer specifics when asked where she would depart with the GOP.

It goes on to characterize that GOP agenda as one that “gives more tax breaks to millionaires and corporations who ship our jobs overseas while they gut the middle class.” 

The ad points to Wehby’s support for reducing corporate and individual tax rates to 25 percent and her support for a Balanced Budget Amendment, as well as comments she’s made about reigning in the Department of Education and eliminating “duplicative” job training programs to save money.

“National Republicans want Wehby in the Senate to vote for their priorities. But with Jeff Merkley, we have a Senator who always stands up for ours,” the ad closes.

While most polling has shown Merkley well-poised for reelection — the most recent automated survey, by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, showed him up by 14 — Republicans saw the early negative attack as evidence the senator is concerned about the challenge from Wehby.

“Jeff Merkley & his liberal friends are so not worried about Monica Wehby that he’s buying TV ads attacking her,” tweeted National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Brad Dayspring.