OR-Sen: Poll Shows Smith Very Vulnerable *

A internal DSCC poll shows Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) four points ahead of Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) in a hypothetical race for Smith's Senate seat;

DeFazio (Dem)- 42%
Smith (Rep)- 38%

It's a partisan poll, so it's not really trustworthy, but partisan polls can show weakness (as this does with Smith.) DeFazio may not be the best candidate to run against Smith, but if he leads in a partisan poll, then it's probably really a dead heat.

DeFazio's district, the Oregon 4th, is the traditional swing part of the state. Located down in the Southwest part of the state, bordering California and the Pacific Ocean, it includes Eugene, Springfield, Coos Bay and Albany. Cook gives it a PVI of D+1, DeFazio has held the seat since 1987 and it's been in Democratic hands for three decades. It's no surprise that DeFazio does well against Smith. He can easily win a Senate race by winning the state's traditionally Democratic area; Portland and it's northwestern suburbs to Astoria ,and his own district, while still losing the Salem area (specifically, Darlene Hooley's district.)

Still, bad news for the GOP. Smith is not exactly the most supportive Republican of the Bush Administration. If he's not doing well, imagine how more supportive Republicans like John Sununu (R-New Hampshire) are doing.

Schumer needs to get the ball rolling on getting the good candidates like he did last time.