Oregon

Oregon's junior senator, Republican Gordon Smith, faces an impressive -- and unusual -- Democratic challenger.

Every election cycle seems to bring one or two candidates who don't rise to national prominence, but whose curious biography, bizarre sense of humor, or plucky underdog perseverance in the face of long odds makes you root for them anyway. A few years ago, Blair Hull was my guy: professional Vegas card-counter turned math whiz who made a fortune in the market and decided to run for Illinois's open Senate seat (as it happened, against a guy named Barack Obama). MORE