Obama helping a Republican senator

I don’t quite know how to feel about this ad…

In every Presidential Election year, each Party’s candidate helps others. Obama’s name is likely to help several Democratic candidates down ballot, but what about a Republican?

(Read more after the leap)

Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, one of the most vulnerable Senate Republicans, is stressing his history of working with the presumptive Democratic nominee in a new campaign ad that hit airwaves Tuesday.

The Obama camp immediately made clear Barry is supporting Smith’s Democrat opponent. Of course they did… now Obama has to be more more Democrat that before…

“Barack Obama has a long record of bipartisan accomplishment, and we appreciate that it is respected by his Democratic and Republican colleagues in the Senate,” Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. “But in this race, Oregonians should know that Barack Obama supports Jeff Merkley for Senate. Merkley will help Obama bring about the fundamental change we need in Washington.”

Alright, I understand the tactic. I won’t hide the fact that I don’t know Oregon. But I know I have a bit of a hard time with the fact that a sitting member of the Senate and a well respected Republican would step away from principles just to get elected.