Smith Won't Go!

by Todd Beeton, Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:13:31 PM EST

convention_fin_2

As Josh announced last week, we're keeping track of which sitting Republican senators and GOP senate challengers are going to be making an appearance in Minneapolis at the Republican National Convention and today another one bites the dust: Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon.

Smith's spokeswoman, Lindsay Gilbride, said Tuesday that Smith will campaign in Oregon during the convention over the Labor Day weekend.

"It's a rare week where the Senate will not be in session, and it's more beneficial for Senator Smith to focus on the campaign than spend time in Minneapolis," Gilbride said.

But just in case you were tempted to read anything into the decision...

"Senator Smith 100 percent supports John McCain's candidacy for president and will take the opportunity of a week when the Senate is not in session to focus on his own campaign," she said.

Smith, of course, did attend the conventions in 2000 and 2004.

It's funny to see so-called moderates Smith and Collins running scared from the convention since McCain has signaled his intention to use the event to attempt to re-brand the GOP as a party friendly to independents and women. The irony is that anyone who actually does have appeal with those groups won't set foot near Minneapolis that week because they know the association with the party brand and the president are toxic to their re-election hopes. So, good luck with that, Johnny Mac.

Perhaps even funnier, though, is that the one faux moderate attending the convention is only doing so because he has no choice: hometown hack Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman.  

Here's how the tally now stands:

Help us complete the tally. If you find public news articles or announcements about whether one of the candidates will go to the GOP convention, drop the quote or link in the comments and if you call one of their campaign offices and politely ask for an answer, email us at willtheygo(at)gmail(dot)com.




Tags: will they go, 2008 republican national convention, gordon smith (all tags)

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Permalink :: 8 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

Ahem.  The convention is in St. Paul, not Minneapolis.

Posted by a proud St. Paul native.


by eastburbguy on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:10:56 PM EST

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

off topic..
but maybe you will read this...

MyDD is losing some quality folks.
(See diaries)

Rightly or wrongly..
MyDD  is becoming known as a place
known
that tolerates trolls...

So they come..
In the process
their bullshit diaries
push off Diaries
of insight and information.

During the Primary we were
reminded again and again
(rightly so)
that the moderators determined
who would be allowed..and who wouldn't.

As we face the serious gear-up phase
of this election...
The moderators really..really
need to make a policy statement..
Zero tolerance for trolls..
Give them a warning first..
Also may I suggest..
There may be times when you folks
might want to delete a comment..
..and say comment deleted by Admin.

tap your toes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzORu1dqE E0

Back to the regularly scheduled thread...


"harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy"
by nogo postal on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:17:04 PM EST

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

get over yourself and go to an open thread with your whine.


by zerosumgame on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 08:06:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

Longest. Haiku. Ever.


by Geiiga on Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 12:08:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

Gordon Smith is running away from the Republican brand in hopes of fooling Oregonians into believing he's some sort of moderate. Smith is actually airing ads cozying up to Obama and Kerry and even attacking Bush! Funny thing is, Smith is a Bush Republican! He has enabled the most harmful policies that Bush has put in place like the Iraq War and Cheney's energy boondoggle of 2003.


Netroots Director for Oregon Senate Candidate Jeff Merkley
by Sarah Lane on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:40:32 PM EST

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

it must be a self-selecting characteristic. if you're a pathological liar you tend to repukes...


by zerosumgame on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 08:07:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

Poor old leaky tub S.S GOP Sludgebucket is listing to port and the rodents are scurrying. Grande Old Party, you had an auspicious beginning with that lanky railroad lawyer fond of stove pipe hats but that was another universe.

Now some other lanky guy is closer to your intent in the other party. And he's from Illinois too. How odd.

Doesn't it strike one as a bit odd that the GOP is in a bigger panic about their chances than many of the self proclaimed 'progressives'?

They are ascribing near magical qualities to a doddering old shell who has been run up the Sludgebucket flagpole.

The smudged and tattered Rove playbook had value in the days of Fat and Happy but in this troubled time, ill winds of an expiring speculation economy are vaporizing hoped for dollars and the once mighty Rove bullhorn has shrunk to a tin kazoo and may soon amount to a canary fart in a sawmill of growing national discontent.

Rejoice and be ye of good cheer at the glorious spectacle of routed oligarch shills who once marched in lock step with the discipline of an Alexandrian Phalanx.


by chris rich on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 07:44:08 PM EST

Re: Smith Won't Go! (none / 0)

"Smith, of course, did attend the conventions in 2000 and 2004."

In all fairness, he was not running for re-election in either of those years, so the "must fight for re-election" line works. The more interesting ones are those that are not running, but still not going. What's the status of Olympia Snowe?

--Kibitzer


by Kibitzer 2006 on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 08:44:52 PM EST


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