Document text
Photo by Bob Pennell Sandy McCallum ("Don" in the TV ads) talks about Sen. Ron Wyden, far right, during a press conference at U.S. Cellular in Medford Tuesday. Guys in Wyden ad are local actors By PETER WONG The two most recognizable figures of this fall's political campaign stopped in Medford Tuesday, though they're not candidates on next week's ballot. But "Don" and "Harry" -- Ashland actors Sandy McCallum and Tony DeBruno -- appeared with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, whose re-election campaign benefits from their television commercials. The actors have become so popular that the Oregon Democrat said, "Please don't encourage Don and Harry to run against me." McCallum was scheduled to appear Tuesday night in "The School for Scandal," a production of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. DeBruno also is a festival actor. Though they were hired for the commercials, which were shot near Mount Hood, McCallum and DeBruno said they like who Wyden is and what he stands for and endorse his bid for a full six-year term. "Don" is a gruff fisherman uninterested in politics, and "Harry" a fisherman impressed with Wyden's achievements in the three years since he succeeded Republican Bob Packwood, who resigned under pressure in late 1995. They did a parody of their ads while sitting in a canoe, sans oars, inside a room at the United States Cellular offices in Medford. Harry: "Senator Wyden stood up for us in balancing the budget, protecting our drinking water, and saving Social Security. This is important, Don. The least you can do is listen to the man." Don: "All right, Harry, I'm going to give him five minutes -- and then I'm going to dig my own worms. The next thing you know, he'll have me doing the Wyden commercials." Though he also has broadcast more serious ads, Wyden said the lighthearted Don-and-Harry ads have set this campaign apart from the rough-and-tumble race he narrowly won against Republican Gordon Smith in January 1996. "We had a chance to do it differently this time," Wyden said. Smith won Oregon's other Senate seat later in 1996. Wyden's Republican opponent this time is state Sen. John Lim of Gresham, who trails Wyden in public opinion surveys. Wyden lost in Southern Oregon in 1996 but soon opened an office in Medford -- the first Senate office outside the Portland-Salem corridor -- and conducted town hall meetings throughout the state. On the serious side, Wyden won several endorsements for work on projects benefiting the region: From Jackson County Sheriff Bob Kennedy for securing more regional help from federal law enforcement agencies and stronger federal controls on the precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine. From Trudi Evans of Merrill, chairwoman of Oregon Grains, for his help against below-cost dumping of foreign grains in the West. From Arnie Green, executive director of Community Works, for securing federal grants for its programs for homeless and runaway youths and for obtaining surplus federal computers. From Sandi Odor, director of the Northwest communications center for United States Cellular, who credited Wyden with encouraging the company to site its service center -- and jobs -- in Medford last year. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA