Oregon Sen. Smith unable to surf Democratic tide

WASHINGTON — An Associated Press analysis says the Democratic wave wiped out Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith.

Smith,

a two-term Republican who had earned a national reputation as a

moderate, had said he hoped to "surf" the nationwide Democratic tide

and win election to a third term.

But after two days of vote counting, the wave crashed over him.

Smith, a Mormon, fell well behind Democrat Jeff Merkley, speaker of the Oregon House, and called Merkley Thursday to concede.

The

defeat came despite a remarkable move to the political middle. Smith

didn't just run away from President Bush and John McCain. He

practically leapt into the arms of Barack Obama and other Democrats.