Making a Play for Oregon

The GOP has its strongest Senate candidate in the Beaver State in at least a decade, in the person of Dr. Monica Wehby:

The race is shaping up to be a strong test of the GOP strategy of relentlessly using the health law against Democrats in hopes of regaining control of the Senate.

The rollout of the law in Oregon has been worse than in most other states, and Republicans are hoping a doctor has the credibility to capitalize on the resulting voter discontent.

“Doctors are trained differently,” Wehby said in a recent candidate forum at a Republican women’s club in Lake Oswego, a well-to-do Portland suburb. “We know how to look at things logically, not ideologically, and we also know how to work with other people.”

Running on “not ideology but competence” didn’t do Michael Dukakis any favors in 1988, because he exuded competence like I exude sobriety on Friday Tacos and Margaritas Night. But in a blue state like Oregon — or Michigan or New Hampshire — someone like Wehby is the best shot Republicans have. The party has been maligned as overly-ideological, and certain candidates from the last two cycles have done nothing to improve that image.

Getting the GOP out of its funk means at least trying to win longshot elections, and doing so with credible candidates instead of crackpots who run because nobody credible is willing to make a go of it.