Posted on 12/14/2007 3:49:05 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
In just over a month, the first round of presidential decision-making will kick off with the 2008 Iowa caucuses. Yet, despite the early state focus, several Republican front-runners already are directing their attention to the Evergreen State, which they believe could be competitive next year.
Surprising, isn't it? Washington has not gone to a Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984, and the state boasts two Democratic senators, six Democratic members of Congress, a Democratic governor and a Democratic-controlled Legislature. Of course, Washington has elected Republicans from outside the conservative mainstream, such as Sens. Slade Gorton and Dan Evans (who also was elected governor).
But, with Gov. Chris Gregoire's ultimate triumph over Dino Rossi in 2004 and the decisive victories of Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell in their most recent races, sure enough Washington is now viewed as blue territory by most at home and across the nation.
Not according to Arizona Sen. John McCain, though. Recently, he has been touting his ability to beat the Democratic front-runner, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, in a head-to-head contest in Washington. McCain is confident that his green streak, evidenced by his sponsorship of major anti-global warming legislation in the Senate and the accompanying praise he earned from green group Environmental Defense, puts him within the mainstream in Washington. He also believes that Evergreen Staters like leaders with an independent streak -- something the man frequently praised (and just as often derided) as a maverick still seems to possess. In addition, he's happy with the results of an October SurveyUSA poll that showed him beating Clinton here, albeit by just one point.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...
Game’s rigged. We can’t win.
If the election is close, Seattle already has bagfuls of ballots marked for Hillary locked away in a closet so they can "find" them after the election is over.
The north end of Boise is—in fact all of the Idaho State legislative districts in the Boise city limits have elected Dims. However, the outlying areas of the Treasure Valley (Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, and so on) are still very conservative.
Hope this helps.
How about if someone held a gun to your head?
I don’t blame Medved for not trying to find something good to say about Keyes. He would just embarrass himself talking about the crazy uncle in the attic.
The only poll I’ve seen is SurveyUSA where McCain was within a point or two, Rudy within 4, and everyone else down by 5 or more.
Um... no
Liz Mair is a political columnist, commentator and consultant from Seattle. Currently based in Arlington, Va.,
I listen almost every day and it appears to me his support is for Rudy Guliani.
I live in Pierce Co. and it is nothing like King Co. (or should I say the United Socialist County of King..,U SCK)
The taxes in that county are opressive and restrictive to any one not making 6 figures. I don’t know how those who make 70,000 or less make it.
You are probably right, and I should not include Pierce County - home of Lewis and McChord - in the characterization. The source of the “stench” is King County, Olympia, and some (not all!) of the larger towns like Bellingham. Outside those areas, like where I live, Washingtonians are good, reasonable people. The same polarization that exists in America exists locally as well.
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