Poll Shows Merkley with Solid Lead in Oregon

A Democratic poll out Friday on the Oregon U.S. Senate race shows challenger Jeff Merkley with a comfortable lead over GOP incumbent Gordon Smith, although the poll contrasts with others that show the race closer.

The Public Policy Polling survey of 1,424 likely voters shows Merkley ahead of Smith, 51 percent to 43 percent, suggesting Merkley is likely riding on the coattails of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s 57-42 percent lead over Republican rival John McCain. The PPP poll was conducted between Tuesday and Thursday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percent.

The most recent RealClearPolitics polling average gives Merkley the lead over Smith as well, but only by 3.8 percent.

–J. Taylor Rushing