by Will Evans

While Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) gets battered by a liberal outside group, his Democratic opponent, Jeff Merkley, gets similar treatment from a conservative outside group.

In a new ad, Freedom's Watch accuses Merkley of being just downright mean. The ad asks, "Who could have ever opposed" compassionate homecare assistance to seniors? You guessed it: "Jeff Merkley did."

Both Merkley and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) vigorously denied the accusation. But they can't get rid of the ad.