Oregon Public Broadcasting

Campaign ads are a hot topic in Oregon's Senate race.

First, Democrats accuse Gordon Smith of running an ad that rides the coattails of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Now, Gordon Smith's campaign has lodged an official complaint with the Federal Elections Commission over a Democratic Party ad featuring Jeff Merkley. Ethan Lindsey reports.

Listen to this ad, and see what you think it's about.

Democratic Ad: “Instant messaging, chat rooms, social networking sites. We never really know who our children are talking to. I'm Jeff Merkley and that's why I passed one of the toughest Internet predator laws in the country."

Democrats paid for that ad and another, also featuring senate candidate Jeff Merkley.

Merkley's campaign says these are issue ads, exempt from stricter election laws.

Gordon Smith's campaign says the ads are about electing Jeff Merkely.

And that by appearing in these ads, Merkley violated federal election law.

Smith's campaign manager, Brooks Kochvar, has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission.

Brooks Kochvar: “For him to make a claim that this doesn't benefit his campaign isn't only laughable, it's illegal.”

Both sides acknowledge that the fight at the FEC won't be resolved until after the election is over.

That's why Smith's campaign is calling for the ads to be taken down now.