Internal poll shows Rep. DeFazio in tight race in Oregon

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) won reelection with 82 percent of the vote in 2008, but Republicans are boasting new internal numbers that have the Democrat leading by just 6 points over his GOP opponent, Art Robinson. 

The poll, conducted by Wilson Research Strategies for the conservative group Concerned Taxpayers of America, has DeFazio at 48 percent to Robinson's 42 percent. It surveyed 300 likely voters with a margin of error of 5.6 percentage points.

Along with the obvious caveat that it's a GOP internal, that the race could be in competitive territory is surprising. It's a seat that hasn't been on anyone's radar screen ahead of November and one that has seen zero attention from the national parties. 

The race doesn't even crack election handicapper Charlie Cook's list of competitive House districts. 

If Robinson, a first-time candidate, is even within 10 points of DeFazio, it makes you wonder how many other sleeper races might be out there ahead of this fall. 

Concerned Taxpayers of America has been the only real player in the district to this point, already spending $175,000 running TV ads against DeFazio. 

There are signs that DeFazio is paying some real attention to the Republican challenge. A recent DeFazio ad attacked Concerned Taxpayers of America as "a shadowy special interest." 

The Democrat has also distanced himself from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), suggesting he might not support her again as Speaker should Democrats retain their House majority.

--Updated at 1:49 p.m.