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After several months of sitting back and letting Democrats Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley go after each other, Republican incumbent Gordon Smith has jumped into the fray in the Oregon Senate race, launching attacks on both of his potential Democratic challengers, but saving special censure for Merkley.

Smith made his TV debut with "Get It" (subscription), a positive ad touting his record in the Senate as an "independent." Seated in a wood-paneled office with soothing music playing in the background, Gordon tries to separate himself from the "partisan fighting, gridlock" of the nation's capital. "That's Washington’s answer to your problems, not mine. I get it," he insists. "No matter who our next president is -- him or her -- I'll find common ground for the change we need." The ad closes with the tagline, "Common ground for the common good."

This tone of niceness didn't last long, however. Just days after "Get It" went on the air, Smith released an ad attacking both Merkley and Novick. "Change? " (subscription) challenges the notion that either Democrat will be a "candidate of change." An announcer accuses Merkley of breaking fundraising rules which he helped set and cites an article from the Oregonian calling Novick the "liberal champion of government spending."

Along with attacking his would-be opponents, Smith also attempts to do something in this ad that it may be difficult to pull off -- usurp the "change" label despite having 12 years of Washington experience. Merkley and Novick represent "more of the same when it's time for a change," the announcer concludes.

In response, Novick manager Jake Weigler said the ad "makes clear that Gordon Smith knows he can't run on his record." Merkley spokesman Matt Canter reacted even more vigorously, accusing Smith of "lying about Jeff Merkley's record out of the box," and adding that Smith was the one "collecting contributions from lobbyists in Washington, D.C. It is the height of hypocrisy from Gordon Smith."

Smith has shown no indication of letting up, however. Two more ads released over the last several days are dedicated solely to trashing Merkley -- indicating that Smith may already have some idea who the Democratic nominee will be.

"Banned" (subscription) repeats the claim that Merkley has broken his own fundraising rules. "Rural Timber" (subscription), meanwhile, portrays the "Portland politician" Merkley as being out of touch with rural Oregon voters. "The East Oregonian says Merkley has snubbed the region, and called his statements ignorant and his attitude all too familiar," an announcer states. "When it's time to be united, Merkley keeps us divided," he charges.