I think he can win. The following Edgar Bergen (ventriloquist) & Mortimer Snerd (dummy) exchange explains my thinking:
Mortimer: You know, you know, Bergen, I -- I may SEEM dumb, but when I set my mind to somethin' --
Bergen: Yes, yes?
Mortimer: Well, iiiit just sits there.
George Nethercutt is no Mortimer Snerd. When he sets his mind to something, I'm not ready to bet against him.
I wish I shared your optimism. But these Seattle liberals are extreme and irrational. Yard signs in West Seattle read "No Iraq War", well after war efforts were already underway. "Impeach Bush" and other irrational, kneejerk slogans abound. Greg Nickels, an extreme left-wing wacko, beat out a more moderate Democrat for the Mayoral race in 2000(or 2001?).
Eastern Washington should really be a separate state; it's not fair to them not to have any representation at the national level.