This is an inaugural post from my personal blog following one of the most intriguing races for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
One year ago, the idea of a vulnerable Senator Murray was outrageous. The 18-year incumbent is the 4th highest ranking Senate Democrat, and as Senate elections go this kind of stuff matters. Voter angst in 2010 is quickly turning incumbency and stature in the D caucus into an impediment that has put even the Majority Leader on very shaky ground. That being said, this was an unimaginable prospect even 6 months ago- That was then...
National odds-makers give two-time gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi a real shot at taking down one of the most entrenched members of the U.S. Senate, Patty Murray. Poll after poll has demonstrated the volatility of this match-up with Dino ahead by 10 and Murray ahead by 7 depending on who you want to believe. One thing almost all have in common- The 18 year incumbent, Patty Murray is not breaking 50% - And when crosstabs are available, independents are breaking hard for Dino Rossi (A recent Elway poll has him up 45-32 in this critical category).
The campaign plan for Murray is being unveiled slowly but surely. One could assume that the past 6 years in Murrayland haven't been consumed with fretting over a potential credible challenger in 2010 (and we can confidently assume that their plans didn't include a certain Dino Rossi). Taking one out of the playbook of Dino's two time gubernatorial opponent, Democrats appear ready to make 2010 the year of social values. When they're not hanging Dino puppets in effigy, Democrats will pound Dino for wanting to keep women barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen (as one of their recent fundraising pieces alluded to). Unfortunately for them, voters seem unfazed by the same old political rhetoric and are seemingly more concerned with trillion-dollar deficits and out-of-control spending than the old, tired cultural wars that have worked in the past. Simply put, the D by your name won't guarantee a WA State victory this year.
The Seattle PI's Joel Connelly may have said it best:
"All-Dino, all-the-time attacks by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee in the past two months haven't diminished Rossi but rather given him a more formidable aura."The next 3 weeks will be critical as both campaigns get their engines running and the begin a very intense, shortened campaign cycle that carries significant national implications. Murray has $6M in the bank, but Dino raised $600,000 in his first week as an announced candidate, and we may be seeing even more impressive fundraising totals in the near future.
All for now, stay tuned.
