The Republican primary campaign for Senate District 54 is entering its final stretch as incumbent and former Bend city councilor Chris Telfer tries to off a well-funded challenge from local Republican heavyweight and former House Majority Leader Tim Knopp.
While Knopp has pledged to keep the discussion on policy issues including taxes and economic growth, his supporters aren’t playing by the same rules. Oregon Right to Life opened up the ground offensive recently with a mailer that features a picture of a fetus and the claim that "only one candidate will stand up for her right to live." (Telfer is pro-choice, but has downplayed the issue)
Like several of Knopp’s own campaign materials, the mailer (below) attacks Telfer for failing to support issues that came before the legislature when Knopp served, but Telfer had yet to be elected. In this case, a parental notification intiative that was defeated by voters in 2006 (The proposed law would have required girls over the age of 15 to get a parents approval before seeking an abortion.)
