Posted on 07/28/2003 7:38:59 PM PDT by LdSentinal
WASHINGTON, July 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will face a challenge from Rep. George Nethercutt (R) next year, staff writer Hans Nichols reports in the July 29, 2003, issue of The Hill. While Nethercutt did not confirm that he would run, other sources said the fifth-term member from Spokane would challenge the second-term senator. Speculation now centers on when Nethercutt's candidacy will become official. "My sense is that he's decided to run," said Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.), who opted against a Senate bid. Nethercutt is going against state history; no candidate from the eastern part of the state has won a Senate bid since the New Deal era.
Nethercutt to cross the mountains
By Hans Nichols
Rep. George Nethercutt, a Spokane Republican, has decided to challenge two-term Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in a Washington state east-west Senate showdown.
Nethercutt declined to confirm his candidacy. But numerous sources close to five-term congressman said that he has made a decision to seek the Senate seat next year.
There's heated speculation in GOP ranks when Nethercutt will make his announcement official. Sources say he already informed the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Bush White House of his intention to run. A formal announcement is believed to be set for late September or early October.
April Gentry, Nethercutt's press secretary, said, "George is still receiving advice from people and he'll make his plans known in the near future."
Republican operatives are deferring to Nethercutt to make his formal announcement.
But Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) said, "I think he's inclined to go. My sense is that he's decided to run."
Dunn, who earlier this year declared that she would not challenge Murray, also predicted that an official announcement would come in September.
Nethercutt's reluctance to declare his official candidacy allows him to maintain a fundraising advantage by not formally challenging an incumbent senator.
Accordingly to this reasoning, K Street donors can still contribute to an undeclared Nethercutt -- a House appropriator -- without offending Murray, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Lobbyists, congressional staffers and administration aides say Nethercutt decided to challenge the two-term Murray late last week. On Wednesday, he met with President Bush and Karl Rove, the president's chief political operative, at the White House. Since then, he has begun to inform key state political players of his plans.
"His rhetoric in the GOP apparatus did change mid-week," said a Washington state Republican operative.
The race is all but certain to garner national attention as Nethercutt, the onetime dark horse who defeated the then House Speaker, Rep. Tom Foley (D) in the Republican's 1994 watershed year, will be chasing the "Mom in Tennis Shoes," who shuffled onto the national stage in 1992's "Year of the Woman."
While Nethercutt faced long odds in his first race, this time he would again be running against history as he seeks to penetrate the so-called "Cascade curtain." If elected, Nethercutt would be the first senator to hail from the east of the Cascade Mountains since the New Deal era.
Earlier this summer, while still mulling whether to make a challenge, Nethercutt outlined his coming campaign against Murray by citing her votes against the war in Iraq, against the Bush tax cuts, as well as her comments about Osama bin Laden.
In December, Murray told a group of school children that "He's (bin Laden) been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that."
Nethercutt's entry does not come as a total surprise to Democrats. In an appropriations committee hearing last Thursday, Nethercutt drew the attention of Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) by expressing a hitherto unknown interest in transportation projects on the western side of the state.
Democrats exuded confidence in Murray's reelection. "Nethercutt has earned the nickname 'Nevertrust' because of his pattern of lying to his constituents. His lack of credibility, and his hyper-conservatism are going to impossible to overcome," said Kirstin Brost, spokesperson for the state Democratic Party.
In 2000, Nethercutt reneged on his promise to serve only three terms if he beat Foley.
Though Nethercutt had not informed the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee of his intent to leave the House at press time, his departure would create an opening for several eager, Spokane-area Republicans.
Elsewhere in the Evergreen State, an interesting campaign season is taking shape, with a potentially close governor's race since that incumbent Gary Locke (D) has announced that he will not seek reelection.
Republicans gleefully anticipate a nasty Democratic gubernatorial primary, as they seek to clear the GOP slate for Microsoft millionaire Bob Herbold.
Chris Vance, chairman of the state's Republican Party, said, "While the Democrats duke it out in what is shaping up to be a vicious primary for governor, we intend to unite behind one candidate. The same goes for U.S. Senate, where we will have one candidate to run against Patty Murray, who is as vulnerable as she's ever been."
You will not elect a moderate (much less a conservative) in a state-wide election in Washington for 20 years.
The Looney Left runs the state. Get over it.
What happens in 20 years?
The Looney Left runs the state. Get over it.
How about no?
That sounds an awful lot like what folks were saying about the 2002 Maryland governor's race.
And it should be noted that gap was undoubtedly inflated due to the premature Florida call. While I don't think Dubya would have won WA, I do feel he would have gained significantly more votes.
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