Smith, 38, a Harvard Law graduate and a founder of the Oregon Bus Project, would be the youngest credible candidate in the field by a decade (19-year-old community college student Max Brumm does not meet that standard). Smith's years running the Bus Project, which encourages young voters to get involved in the political process, provides him an extensive network. And Smith's legislative seat is safe and so he has considerable time to ponder his future before the March 15, 2012 filing deadline.

