Nethercutt to Run For Washington Senate Seat

Fox News ^ | Wednesday, July 30, 2003 | AP

[byteback]

SPOKANE, Wash.

[byteback]

Too bad Jennifer Dunn won't run but at least Osama Mamma has an opponent.

[SMGFan]

I guess only if Bush wins in Washington will Nethercutt defeat Murray? Oh, I really hope she gets defeated.

[Impy]

"I guess only if Bush wins in Washington will Nethercutt defeat Murray?"

Probably true. I can't imagine Nethercutt would outpoll Bush.

[Abram]

Currently, I think that Nethercutt has a snowball's chance in H--- to win, but I agree, at least Murray has an opponent where the Democrats will have to concentrate some of the time/resources vs. spending them in key states like SC, NC, SD, NV, FL, GA...Things are finally starting to look for the R recruitment. It looks like Illonis has finally found somewhat of a challenger, but not a good solid candidate, but something to siphon off some time/resources that could be spent elsewhere.
Nethercutt is the giant slayer (beating Foley), but he is from Eastern Washington, he went back on his word regarding term limits, he is a conservative in a liberal state, and he is not especially charismatic. Dunn would have been a better challenger for Murray as she is from the Western half of the state, a woman (to counter the female impact)...she is also articulate and a good speaker. She would have wiped the floor with the bumbling idiot Murray in the debates. Nethercutt will just look mean and insensitive if he appears too much smarter than Murray in the debates...which, is not hard as Murray makes my canary sound like Albert Enstein. Nethercutt is fairly cranial and does not have extremely strong speaking skills. I am worried that the media will pull a Lazio on everything that Nethercutt tries to do and label him as mean.
I live right by Shoreline where Murray was on the school board. Many residents, including a lot of teachers, despise that woman and want to get rid of her. Linda Smith was almost (if not more polarizing) than Murray. Linda was seen as mean and vicious...Murray was seen as the essential soccer mom in tennis shoes. Interesting outcome. Reed has also filed the necessary papers...I am curious to see what happens with that campaign now that Nethercutt has announced.

[Impy]

You speak of Jack Ryan?

[Impy]

One guy who may run that you might like is a former General named Borling.

Borling, who is looking to run as a Republican, said he considers himself more of an independent and often sounds like a Libertarian. He supports abortion rights, favors school vouchers, backs President Bush's tax cuts and believes people should be allowed to carry concealed weapons.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sen291.html

[Abram]

Unfortunately, he has the Ryan surname that so many voters will associate with the Former Governor Ryan (soon to be inmate number#22331). Jack Ryan has some potential and seems to be somewhat of a credible challenge...but I don't pretend to know Illonis politics too well.

[Abram]

VERY interesting...I would be interested to see what happens with his bid. Would he turn into another McCain? I would prefer that he is a little younger so that he has more time to spend in the Senate, but who knows. Maybe it will be a bloody primary on the D side that would allow us to slide in the right candidate under their noses and win the general!!! May be a pipe dream, but one can dream.

[rhinohunter]

Murray, a rising Democratic star...

LOL!!!

[Impy]

I'm dissappointed he's not pro-life but on paper at least it seems to me he would have a decent chance to win in November.

[Abram]

Although not "pro-life" in 100% of his votes, he tends to toe the life line enough that the media in Washington State will eat him alive. If Skeletor (AKA Gorton) with his wishy-washy track record couldn't get reelected, I don't see Nethercutt getting more than 45% of the vote. I believe he will do better than Carlson for Governor or Linda Smith for Governor (he is not as polarizing), but he is not going to charge up the charge up the religious right base, inspire the fiscal conservatives, or energize the Dan Evans (aka Country Club) Republicans. I will work for him, dollar bell, work the phone banks, but I don't see him winning the general. Sorry for the negative tone, but when I see the voters re-electing Jim McDermott and with infighting of the Republican Party under the "wonderful" leadership of Chris Vance...I am not inspired.

[Impy]

I was talking about General Borling. :-P

[Clintonfatigued]

George Nethercutt is not the strongest candidate that could have been found, but he does have a shot at unseating Osama Bin Murray. And he is a stronger candidate than her 1998 opponent. If Nethercutt can poll large margins in the eastern portion of the state, and make serious inroads in the northwestern and southwestern parts of the state, he could do it. His broken term-limit promise is a liability, but her praise of Osama Bin Laden will counterbalance that.