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> September 11. 2014 12:01AM Our View: Good riddance to Super PAC attack ads The decision by well-heeled out-of-state interests to cancel political ads targeting U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley suggests a couple of possible conclusions about the state's voters and about the motivation of so-called "Super PACs." Hint: They're not here because they care deeply about Oregon. The Super PAC called Freedom Partners confirmed last week it had canceled ads scheduled to air in October, but a source reportedly said the group might resume advertising if the race tightened up. That suggests the PAC, organized by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, is shifting its focus to races elsewhere in the country where it might get more return on its investment. It also suggests Merkley's Republican challenger, Portland pediatric neurosurgeon Monica Wehby, is not gaining on the first-term Democrat in the polls. In keeping with federal election rules governing independent expenditures in political races, Freedom Partners may not coordinate its advertising with the Wehby campaign. Rather than tout Wehby's credentials, the ads have taken direct aim at Merkley, urging voters to defeat him.  The ads paint Merkley as ineffective, and tie his tenure in the Senate to the increasing national debt. When asked, voters generally say they dislike negative campaigning, but that doesn't stop politicians and groups from going negative, suggesting that negative ads work. In this case, however, it appears the anti-Merkley barrage has failed to sway enough voters to boost Wehby's standing in the polls. Oregonians may or may not dislike negative advertising, but they certainly don't appreciate out-of-state interests telling them how to vote. We can't say we're sorry to see the Koch brothers move on to greener pastures, although it's always nice to see a couple of meddling millionaires leave their money behind in an apparently fruitless cause.  The decision to cancel next month's ad buys says volumes about the Kochs' real goal. It's not to make Oregon a better place by electing the best person for the job of U.S. senator. It's to elect enough candidates with an R after their names to tip the balance of power in the Senate. And if they see that their money isn't likely to achieve that goal here, they'll spend it someplace else. That's fine with us. And we suspect it's fine with most Oregon voters, too.     http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20140911/OPINION/140919948 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->