Measure 50, an Oregon ballot item that would have raised the state's tobacco tax and used the proceeds to pay for children's health care, was defeated by voters by a wide margin, the Oregon Statesman-Journal reported Nov. 7.

The tobacco industry poured more than $12 million into a media blitz that seemingly proved effective in turning voters against the measure. The Healthy Kids Program was defeated despite the support of Gov. Ted Kulongoski and a coalition of major healthcare organizations.

"The tobacco industry won this battle, but they will not win the war," said Kulongoski, who promised to bring the measure before state lawmakers in 2009.

James Luce, a Salem, Ore., pediatrician and Measure 50 supporter, blamed the loss on voter confusion and a negative ad campaign where tobacco companies outspent backers of the tax plan by a 4-to-1 margin.

J.L. Wilson, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds campaign, said the ads raised legitimate concerns about Measure 50, adding, "If they are going to consider smokers an easy source of money, someone's going to come to their defense."