Click here to watch "Guts And Independence."

In a new TV ad released Monday, Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith is sticking to a strategy common among Republican incumbents this cycle: avoiding any mention of party ID. "Guts And Independence" (subscription) features two local Democratic leaders endorsing Smith instead of Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley, and Smith is never labeled as a Republican.

State Sen. Avel Gordly and former Rep. Elizabeth Furse sit side by side and speak straight to the camera, offering their reasons for supporting Smith in his re-election bid. They cite Smith's opposition to the Iraq war and willingness "to stand up to George Bush and other Republicans" as evidence of his "independence." They pledge to voters: "You can trust him. We do." Smith appears on screen at the end to place his stamp of approval on "working together across party lines," a tagline borrowed from his first general election ad, Middle Ground" (subscription), which also stressed the senator's bipartisan approach.

With President Bush's job approval sinking to record lows, it's no wonder that GOP leaders from Washington are taking pains to distance themselves from the party and its figurehead. Meanwhile, Democrat Barack Obama is running ahead of John McCain in the presidential contest in Oregon, according to recent polls, meaning that it could prove harder for a Republican to win in a downballot race. But Smith maintains a significant fundraising advantage over Merkley, who has yet to go up with any TV ads in the general.