“Stormy” == media code for “conservative, therefore we hate him, and we’re thrilled to have helped force him out”. Heard qualifies as conservative, at least by Oregon standards.
Smith (the guy who wants to replace him) is, no surprise, a typical GOP squish. Senate District 1 is solidly Republican, which means it can do better than a squish — if an actual conservative who wishes to run can be found, and who can compete against all the establishment $$$ and other support which will heavily favor the liberal Republican.
Thank you.
I figured that if an AP story mentioned a Pubbie at all by name, that he was just this side of the Molech worshipers of the left.