Rossi Campaign Cautiously Optimistic As Voter Count Continues

November 3, 2010 by 4 Comments

As of 11:57 PM, the Washington Secretary of State was reporting on its website Election Day results showing incumbent Senator Patty Murray leading challenger Dino Rossi by a razor slim margin of only 14,005 votes out of 1,430,787 counted.  At the end of the first day of counting, Murray has a lead of 50.49% to Rossi’s 49.51%.  However, Rossi For Senate Campaign Manager Pat Shortridge issued a statement by Email late last night outlining some points that should have the Murray campaign sweating bullets:

  • Historically in Washington, the Republican candidates improve their percentages in each county in votes counted after Election Day, usually improving their margins by 2 to 3 percentage points.
  • King County, which is providing most of Sen. Murray’s margin, accounts for 30.7% of all registered voters in the state. According to County Election reports, King County only has 26.7% of the remaining ballots left to count. The rest of the state, where Rossi has a comfortable lead, will count proportionately more ballots post-Election Day.
  • Spokane County, where Rossi is currently in the lead by more than 50%, still has at least 21.6% of the remaining ballots left to process, with more coming in.
  • Rossi is currently leading in Pierce County by nearly 2,500 votes
  • According to the Secretary of State, there are still over 508,000 estimated ballots left to process statewide.
  • Again, we will know more over the next several days as ballots continue to come in and counties continue to count. We are confident that the margins we are seeing throughout Washington State, combined with the state legislative victories, will put Dino Rossi ahead by an overwhelming margin.

This election is not like previous statewide races that Rossi has run.  It is a midterm, off-Presidential cycle election.  These usually favor Republicans, that traditionally exhibit more faithful voting habits.  In addition, a Republican tidal wave is sweeping the nation, with Republicans gaining a solid majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Turnout in more conservative Washington districts is running above normal this year.  This trend is elevating Republican Party hopes, as Washington is poised to send a Republican majority of its Congressional Representatives back to D.C. come January.  Five of Washington’s nine Congressional seats appear to be in Republican hands:

  • District 2 John Koster is leading his opponent 50.41% to 49.59%.  This is a Republican “gain”.
  • District 3 Jaime Herrara is leading her opponent 52.92% to 47.08%.  This is a Republican “gain”.
  • District 4 Doc Hastings is leading his opponent 68.31% to 31.69%.  This is a Republican “hold”.
  • District 5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers is leading her opponent 64.51% to 35.49%.  This is a Republican “hold”.
  • District 8 Congressman Dave Reichert is leading his opponent 55% to 45%, this is a Republican “hold”.

Republican gains in west-side Congressional Districts are exceeding local Party expectations.  In addition, a number of voter initiatives regarding taxes have shown a conservative voting streak.  An initiative for a state income tax has gone down in flames, while another requiring a 2/3 majority of the state legislature to raise taxes appears to be passing.  In addition, a rollback of Democratic Party approved taxes on food and bottled water appeared to be passing as well.

While the race is still too close to call, it looks like we may be calling Dino Rossi our Senator very soon.

 

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Cross-posted at Palousitics

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FEDERSPIEL FOR FAIRNESS IN DISTRICT COURT

October 17, 2010 by Leave a comment

Yakima County District Judge, Position 4

 

Doug Federspiel

 

Late last week, I interviewed Mr. Federspiel by telephone about his campaign for Yakima County District Judge, Position 4.  He has been campaigning for many months, and said that he feels secure in that he has done the best job he can in getting his message out to voters before the election.

Mr. Federspiel was locked in a three-way primary contest for this position earlier this year.  Of the three candidates, he got the most votes (almost 45%), and is hoping to carry that momentum forward in the general election.  State Senator Jim Honeyford (R-Sunnyside), Sunnyside Mayor James A. Restucci, and Sunnyside Council Member Don Vlieger have endorsed Mr. Federspiel in the general election.

During the interview, I asked Mr. Federspiel if he agreed with people who describe District Court as hearing misdemeanor cases.  He said that that is only one function of District Court, and then went on to describe in greater detail what the court does.

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Patty Murray And The Recovery Summer: Mission Accomplished?

September 9, 2010 by Leave a comment

This is a new web video released by U.S. Senate Candidate Dino Rossi.

Filed under 2010 Election, Economy, President Obama, Republican Party, Uncategorized, US Senate Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is This Billboard Racist?

September 6, 2010 by 12 Comments

Text of Billboard: "Come November Let's Kick Barack Obama's Ass!"

This sign is on South First Street in Sunnyside, Washington.  It depicts an elephant kicking the rear end of a donkey which a caricature of Barack Obama is riding.  It is a sign that shows a lack of tact, and is sure to offend the sensibilities of a large number of people, but is it racist?

I was talking to some folks in town about this sign recently, and got a number of reactions.  One person said that the only thing the billboard is showing is that the property owner is an ass!  (A few years ago, he put up some controversial signs and the city demanded he take them down.  He sued the city for violating his free speech rights, and eventually won a settlement.)

Another person exclaimed: “Have you seen that offensive billboard?  It is obviously racist!”

What do you think about this sign?

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Cross posted at Palousitics.net

Filed under 2010 Election, Freedom Issues, political humor, President Obama, Republican Party, Traditional Values, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rossi Ready To Grill Patty Murray

August 27, 2010 by 1 Comment

U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi recently challenged 18-year incumbent Patty Murray to a series of debates.  Murray responded to the Rossi campaign by offering to debate only two times, and only in late October, just prior to the election.

Rossi has suggested that they have a total of six debates, to cover all the major media markets in Washington, with an additional debate in Seattle and also on national TV.  Murray is refusing to go around the state to discuss issues with Rossi, despite this being the fourth time she is running a Senate race.

This Patty Is Done

Putting Patty Murray on a stage with Dino Rossi is probably the last thing her campaign wants to do.  They know that Patty will be cooked, if she has to actually think about what she is saying without consultants providing a script for her.

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Didier Favors Impregnation By Rape

August 21, 2010 by 4 Comments

Didier Speaking At A Tea Party Event In Yakima, July 2010

As recently as May 28th, Clint Didier was touting how he was a team player, and would support whoever faced off with Patty Murray this November.  This is what he said on the David Boze radio show:

“If it is Patty Murray and whoever – it’s whoever. Vote against Patty Murray. And we gotta stimulate this movement in the state of Washington that whoever comes out of that primary we gotta get behind. And believe me, if it’s not me, whoever it is, I’m gonna get behind them. I’m gonna work as hard for them as I did for me. Because it’s not about me. It’s about our kids, our grandkids, and assuring they have that same shot at the American Dream. It’s about America.”

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Filed under 2010 Election, Freedom Issues, Republican Party, Traditional Values, Uncategorized, US Senate, Yakima County Republicans Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Rossi Challenges Murray To Debate

August 20, 2010 by 4 Comments

Dino Rossi speaking at the 2010 Washington State Republican Party Convention.

Dino Rossi is challenging Patty Murray to a series of debates to be held in Washington in the weeks leading up to the November general election.  This is according to a letter that Dino Rossi sent to Senator Patty Murray:

Dear Sen. Murray:

The U.S. Senate race is one of the most important elections in the State of Washington in 2010. Given the importance of this election, and the desire for voters to make an informed decision this fall, I propose we hold five debates in Washington State, in addition to one nationally televised debate. I further propose we hold one debate in each media market hosted by local civic organizations, with two debates in the Seattle area.

The five debates in Washington State would be Lincoln-Douglas style, in which we would be allotted equal time to make opening statements, ask questions of each other, introduce new ideas, or defend policy positions. A timekeeper would ensure each side adheres to time limits which are mutually agreed upon.

This is an opportunity for us to question each other on various policy positions in a manner which allows the public, not the press or interest groups, to dictate the issues covered.

In order to ensure the maximum number of voters see the debates so they are able to make an informed decision, we should invite television stations in each market to broadcast the debates. Additionally, as there is limited time before general election ballots are mailed, I propose that we hold one debate a week beginning the week of September 6, 2010.

Will Patty Murray accept the challenge?  Stay tuned…

Filed under 2010 Election, Republican Party, Uncategorized, US Senate Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

These Voices Don’t Speak For The Rest Of Us

August 17, 2010 by 1 Comment

Today is election day for the primary in the state of Washington.  If you have not yet done so, this is your last chance to get your ballot in.

Vote: Sanders, Johnson, Faul, Dino.

This video is a nice montage entitled “These Voices Don’t Speak For The Rest Of Us”, and captures some of the sentiments of why this election is so important.

Hat tip to U.S. Senator Jim Demint and the group Positively Republican! for sharing this video on Facebook.

Filed under 2010 Election, Constitutional Issues, Freedom Issues, President Obama, Republican Party, Traditional Values, Uncategorized, US Senate, Yakima County Republicans Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

State Rep Working To Elect More Republicans To House

August 14, 2010 by Leave a comment

Washington 15th District State Representative David Taylor has been tapped by fellow Republicans in the State House, to assist up to 22 campaigns during the 2010 election cycle.  He is now a member of the leadership of the House Republican Organizational Committee, and recently sent a fundraising appeals letter to his supporters to ask for their help in raising up to $20,000 to partially fund these other candidates’ campaigns.

Photo From David Taylor's Official Legislative Website

15th District State Representative David Taylor

Mr. Taylor, in a phone interview with this blog, explained that each political party caucus has its own campaign arm, and the House Republican Organizational Committee (HROC) works to recruit candidates, and raise funds, with the goal of getting more Republicans elected in the legislature.  Earlier this year, Taylor transferred $10,000 to HROC, and has the goal of transferring an additional $20,000 following the primary election.

Cary Condotta, a 12th District Representative, invited Mr. Taylor to be on the Leadership Team for HROC this year.  The Leadership Team is made up of caucus elected leadership, and three additional representatives that have been invited to participate.  Taylor said it is an honor to be part of the effort and work of HROC.

Taylor said the top races that he is personally following are:

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Filed under 2010 Election, Republican Party, Uncategorized, Yakima County Republicans Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Patty Murray Launches Negative Primary Ad

August 3, 2010 by Leave a comment

Patty Murray, 18 year Senate veteran, has launched a negative ad against Dino Rossi, even before the primary election has been held.  This is in contrast to Dino Rossi, who launched a positive ad today, calling for change in Washington D.C. that will actually help people in the state of Washington.

US Senate Candidate Dino Rossi

During a press conference today, Dino Rossi said that the functional unemployment rate in Washington is 17.4%.  This number includes those receiving unemployment, people giving up looking for work, as well as underemployed skilled workers that are delivering pizzas.

Rossi said that two out of 10 Washington workers being functionally unemployed is too high.  As he goes around the state, talking with people and business owners, they talk about being worried about making their mortgage payments, and feeding their kids.

He went on to discuss how the healthcare reform is a tax and spending bill, with a little healthcare sprinkled on top.  Murray’s 60th, and deciding vote on this has killed jobs in Washington.

“Even the Chinese government is telling us we are spending too much money” said Rossi.

“We need private sector jobs”, explained Rossi, “instead of more government spending.”

Rossi called for extending all tax cuts enacted under the previous administration, and simplifying the tax code to make it fair and predictable so small businesses can hire more people.

He noted that in Murray’s ad, she is criticizing some of the same legislation that she voted for, such as bailouts of failed businesses.

Rossi said that Murray has not had a private sector job in her adult life, and does not understand entrepreneurs willing to risk it all in order to chase after their dream of making a better life in America.

When asked about energy policy, Rossi responded by saying we need an “all of the above approach”, which includes wind, solar, and even nuclear power in order to achieve energy independence.  He specifically called for continuing to use the vitrification plant at Hanford to turn radioactive sludge into a glass product that can be safely stored at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.  Murray has remained silent on Senator Reid’s attempts to shut that down, until Rossi made it an issue in his campaign.

Dino Rossi’s Ad:

Patty Murray’s negative ad attacking Dino Rossi:

Filed under 2010 Election, Republican Party, Uncategorized, US Senate Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

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