This just in: Gordon Smith is a moderate. OK, you knew that, but everyone's reviewing the specifics of his moderateness, and it's not just the mainstream press marveling at how Blue he is. Small, special-interest news pubs, too, are asking good questions of our Mr. Smith, the Oregon GOP senator who's up for re-election next year, who could be confused with a Democrat. One article worthy of note is in Just Out, the free Portland tabloid published twice monthly and focusing on gay, lesbian, and trans topics. Depending on your gay-rights attitudes, the piece will either comfort, annoy, or raise sharp suspicions about Smith. (The article is only available as a PDF, here.) "I would have to see the language in a civil union bill, but there are many that I could support," Smith told Just Out. "I support the concept." Asked if he represents the state's progressives, Smith said:

I hope I represent the view of Oregon's majority. If you look at my votes for hate crimes, for ENDA [Employment Non-Discrimination Act], for stem cell research, for family planning funding internationally, for school clinic funding, for mental health parity–yes, I am a conservative, but I am also a centrist.

Democrats, are you hearing this? You'd better get a candidate in there quick, before Smith hijacks your entire platform. Or maybe he already did, and we just forgot.