The campaign committees of both parties are trumping up the usual attacks in a close race for the House seat in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.
The National Republican Campaign Committee has attacked freshman Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader for spending, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee links Oregon Republican state Rep. Scott Bruun to special interest groups.
The NRCC’s ad opens with a shopping cart and a voice declaring, “Kurt Schrader is on a world-class spending spree with your money.” The ad goes on to say that Schrader voted for $1.2 trillion in new spending, billions of dollars for the stimulus plan, a national energy tax and $1 trillion in the government health care overhaul.
The DCCC’s ad connects Bruun to oil and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the privatization of Social Security.
The ad plays off Bruun’s name, saying that special interests are “brewing up trouble for Oregon families by getting behind Scott Bruun.” (Bruun is pronounced like “brewing.”) The ad goes on to say that Bruun voted in favor of off-shore drilling, would advocate a raise in the price of medicine for seniors and supports the privatization of Social Security.
In response to statements at a September 10 debate, The Oregonian concluded Schrader is only half truthful in attacking Bruun’s record on Social Security. Bruun said he will vote for partial privatization, but the ad states, “Bruun wanted to privatize Social Security,” as the words, “Scott Bruun Gamble Away Social Security” pass across the screen. The implication that Bruun advocates full privatization of Social Security is “simply not true,” according to The Oregonian.
The Oregonian has endorsed Schrader for re-election and the congressman is leading in a recent poll, according to RealClearPolitics. The race, however, is still considered a dead heat and the Cook Political Report recently shifted the race from leaning Democratic to a toss-up. CQ Politics still lists the race as leaning Democrat.
WATCH: DCCC ad against Scott Bruun
WATCH: NRCC ad against Kurt Schrader