Wu won’t run against Smith, either

Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) has closed the door on a 2008 Senate bid, his spokeswoman told The Hill on Friday. 

Spokeswoman Jillian Schoene said Wu “is not going to be a Senate candidate.” 

{mosads}Wu was never considered a top potential candidate, but his statement, combined with Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s (D) announcement earlier this week that he would not run, means that Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) will not face any of the four Democratic members of the state’s House delegation in his 2008 reelection bid. 

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D) was national Democrats’ top recruitment target, but he turned them down several weeks ago. Rep. Darlene Hooley (D) has also ruled out a bid. 

The only substantial candidate in the race so far is Democratic consultant and activist Steve Novick, who said he would defer to any House member or the 2002 nominee, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury. 

With Bradbury also out, Novick has a green light. 

Although few names have been floated since Blumenauer’s announcement, state Sen. Alan Bates (D) has indicated he is “strongly considering” running for the seat.