Smith "greeted" two people in a practically empty coffee house on an unannounced visit? That's considered a "campaign" by Smith supporters?

Actually, it is surprising that Smith doesn't let HIS CONSTITUENTS know his campaign schedule. After all, he's allegedly wants to continue to represent us.

Andy:

It doesn't end the discussion because very few of Smith's constituents manage know to where to see him or how to get access to him. His website certainly doesn't put them up in advance--the link you sent is to stuff that already happened.

And frankly, that coffee house "visit" is lame. I've been in that place several times and its not very big. The fact that there are only two people he "greeted" is lame. And where was the announcement that he was going to be there..so that the general public could actually see him and talk with him..?

I'm on Smith's mailing list both for general email and for press. I've yet to receive a single press or email advisory for a non-fundraising, public event.

Merkley has had at well over 100 of those kinds of events. Where is Gordon hiding--and why is he hiding?

When you only post where you're BEEN, it's hard for the average voter to hear what you have to say. I checked out the "journal" and didn't see any posting of where Gordon Smith plans to BE, Andy. Your defense of the "Senator" is lame.

And I love how you present as evidence that he is campaigning a single, impromptu stop in Pendleton. There is way more to the state than Pendleton. Just ask Jeff Merkley - he's visited much of it!

Just put my glasses on and see that I meant to say where you've BEEN, not where you're been. Sorry. Growing old is really quite inconvenient!

Carla:

Very true. I'm on his list and I haven't seen anything either - even when he came to Gresham for a "tour" of downtown.

The people of Oregon voted for him twice.

I voted for him three times, including when he lost to Wyden. But no mas.

Visiting a local spot in Pendleton doesn't count in my book. He has a home there. That takes almost no effort and even less courage on Gordo's part.

What about folks in Cottage Grove or Astoria or Cave Junction or Yamhill or Sweet Home or Scio or any number of other small, rural communities. How many of them is Gordo willing to look in the eye?

Not very many from the looks of things.

Is he the Senator of Eastern Oregon or is he Senator of all Oregon?

Please spare us the postmortem caveats, Kevin.

One coffee shop?

In his hometown?

In two days?

That's why he's avoiding John McCain and every other Republican at the convention, while running ads trying to link himself to Obama, Kerry and other Democrats?

To visit one coffee shop?

In his own hometown?

In terms of the Oregon campaign, nsr has a point. Where is Republican Gordon Smith? (Remember, his first name is Republican and we need to honor it). He's on the airwaves. His money advantage is showing. It looks like a problem to me. Hope Jeff's folks have a good next phase planned that will counter it, perhaps asymmetrically since they won't be able to match him dollar for dollar or even dollar for three dollars, probably.

But in terms of Kevin's question, which is, what is it that has been so important that Republican Gordon Smith "can't" go to the Republican National Convention, Andy, Unreal, Captain Crunch and Harry lose. Big time.

Nothing you've pointed to remotely approaches something that would make it important to do that rather than go to St. Paul.

So there must be another reason. And there is.

Where is Republican Gordon Smith? Trying to run away from his identity and his party. Or, to put it another way, anywhere but St. Paul and the RNC.

Kevin wins on that one. Clearly. Hands down.

The question is, can Republican Gordon Smith succeed in and by such running away from himself and his party? Unfortunately the jury's still out on that one.

Congratulations of nullifying this entire thread, Andy. It's clear that the Blue Oregon community is hostile to knowledge; that the quality of their sleep at night is directly correlated to how sound their assumptions are.

Or Smith could actually hold advertised, public events that his constituents don't have to pay to attend...imagine that!

As a former employee of Jeff, I find it hilarious to see you degrade small town coffeeshops as "lame" campaign stops since, that's all Jeff has been doing on his 100 towns tour for 2 months. Or maybe I missed the article about the crowd of 35,000 at Rosie's Mountain Coffeehouse in Mill City or the few thousand people he brought together at the Apple Pedler Restaurant in Prinville.

Please..spare me. Unannounced visits to Pendleton coffee shops being called a "campaign stop" IS lame. And this is Smith's excuse for not showing up to the Convention? Merkley's visits have not only been announced..they've been PROMOTED. Smith is in hiding..afraid to face the electorate. Why do you think his approval ratings are so far in the tank? Its not rocket science, man.

And where has Merkley been? All over Oregon..to announced and well-publicized visits (where people can see him without paying money) to listen to voters and answer their questions.

The only thing that posting the link from Smith's page did was to confirm what Kevin is saying: Smith is in hiding...ducking from being a Republican and hiding from the voters in Oregon.

Unannounced visits to Pendleton coffee shops being called a "campaign stop" IS lame.

Not a campaign stop. That is, unless getting a latte across the street this morning counts as a campaign stop for me!