Third Major Republican Passes on WA Gov Race

[goobergunch]

Governor Gary Locke (D-WA) announced his retirement last month and -- even with the incumbent out of the way -- the GOP still can't seem to attract a major candidate into the race.

<snip>

With the top tier trio all disclaiming interest, the GOP next focused on either State Sen. Dino Rossi or King County Councilman Rob McKenna. Rossi told a Seattle newspaper that he would make a decision "within the next couple of months" -- but added that he was more interested in running for Congress sometime in the future. As for McKenna, he said he plans for run for Attorney General, not Governor -- and suggested State GOP Chair Chris Vance should consider becoming the party's candidate for Governor.

more...http://www.politics1.com/

[AP]

1. The polling must be terrible for Republicans in WA or Rove strategy?

They must know there's no way they can win.

Is this for 2004? Without a good race on the ticket, turnout might be low, and hurt the Democrat in the presidential race.

I wonder if this is a Rove strategy? I wonder if they're going to try to keep turnout low in states in which Republicans are inclined to vote against Bush by making sure there are no major ballot initiatives and no interesting state-wide races in those states?

[w4rma]

2. Or folks in WA are angry at Bush*'s complacency on the Enron/energy scam

It wasn't just California that was defrauded. It was the whole West coast.

[CarlBallard]

7. Oh no

We love paying more for electricity.

[Ediacara]

3. but there IS a Republican running for WA gov

Federico Cruz. Unfortuantely for Cruz, Chris Vance totally blew him off insisting that Herbold would run and win. What a great way to start off the election cycle: piss of your ONLY candidate, and promise a win by someone not running!

[Aristus]

4. Washingtonians know that Gov Locke was not so great for

keeping Boeing here, but they also know that the Repubs are really, REALLY bad for the economy. Any repuke candidate for Governor loses. It's that simple.

[VoteClark]

5. You are right

The next Governor will be Democrat in Washington. Usually when a Democrat loses an election in Washington it is in the East, and almost never on a state wide on Western side area. I am suprised there is even a Republican in King County Washington.


:kick:
J4Clark

[AntiCoup2K4]

6. The only King County repukes are 8th district country clubbers

as is Jennifer Dunn. Repulsively greedy, yes, but not Freeper types by any means.

That would be everywhere in the state other than the immediate Puget Sound region :scared: