Smith Expected to Concede to Merkley

By Josh Kurtz

Posted November 6, 2008 at 1:22pm

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) is expected to concede his Senate race to Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D) later this afternoon, the Associated Press is reporting.

Smith trailed Merkley by about 40,000 votes earlier today, with about 85 percent of the states all mail-in ballots counted.

Smith is scheduled to meet with reporters at his home in Pendleton.

Merkleys victory marks the sixth pickup for Senate Democrats in Tuesdays elections.

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