David Postman has covered the macro numbers already, but there's something else worth mentioning with this story. First, a summary of the numbers:
Through the end of November Gregoire had raised $4.16 million and spent $1.37 million. Rossi had raised $1.44 million and spent $0.53 million. Gregoire leads in cash-on-hand by a roughly 3-1 margin.
More importantly, Dino Rossi has collected in a matter of weeks what took months to raise in his 2004 campaign. Moreover, the fact he has so quickly narrowed Gregoire's daunting cash-on-hand position speaks to the enthusiasm into which his campaign is tapping.
Specifically, I'm not just talking about the smaller, direct mail donations where grassroots enthusiasm for Rossi is well-known. I'm talking about compelling evidence that has been shared with me unlike anything I've ever heard of in this state. Not enthusiasm from uber-donors like John Stanton. Not enthusiasm from lobbyists and their clients. It's enthusiasm from mid-to-high level donors who are coming out of the woodwork to support the campaign.
It all speaks to the general feeling among the populace that things aren't going quite right in Olympia.
At this point, given the legislative session fundraising freeze affecting Gregoire, I wouldn't be surprised if Rossi's campaign is able to close much of the cash-on-hand gap by the time the Legislature adjourns. I didn't think that was possible prior to Rossi's announcement given Gregoire's prodigious fundraising prior to that point.
Posted by Eric Earling at December 16, 2007 06:08 PM | Email ThisI still remember the TVW program with the top D's in front of a Joseph Stalin poster.
Posted by: Independent Voter on December 16, 2007 07:39 PMI'm on board for Dino Rossi in 2008, but I will not be moving my family to Nebraska!
Posted by: mrjimmy on December 16, 2007 09:02 PMWhy are we near a "Supermajority" for D's in Olympia?
Posted by: Shaun on December 16, 2007 09:03 PMAt that point both candidates were relative unknowns, sure Gregoire was AG, and Rossi in the leg, but few really knew that, nor cared. Money helped them change that by getting their name and ideas in front of voters.
This cycle that is not as important. Instead it will come down to the better campaign.
Washington is a default moderate Dem state. Our politics tend democratic, but we don't tend to go for extremes on the D side and we will go for moderates of all stripes quite happily.
Rossi is going to try and paint Gregoire as an extremist democratic in the mold of McDermott, whereas he is a moderate republican and one of those crazy jesus bigots.
Gregoire on the other hand will try to paint him as just that, while campaigning as a moderate. (I supported reinstating 747...)
In this race branding trumps money. (money of course, though, being a necessary but not sufficient condition to do that.
Posted by: Giffy on December 16, 2007 09:57 PM
I suggest this Giffy individual be barred from posting on this web site.
Posted by: stu on December 16, 2007 11:54 PMOh...
That must mean that he's against the perversion of homosexuality.
One more reason to vote for him and against the Homocrats.
Posted by: Independent Voter on December 17, 2007 05:07 AMLike it or not, they can't blame the taxpayers on this mess!
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on December 17, 2007 06:17 AMThe headlines in todays TIMES says that not only do we have to replace the ferries, we sold the depreciation rights to a company back east and we still owe them about 2.7 Million for a couple piles of scrap metal. Another brick in the wall
Posted by: Huh? on December 17, 2007 07:04 AM-a ferry breakdown that endangers or worse yet loses lives during a commuter run and a storm
-the viaduct collapse during "the big one" earthquake.
Washington State's version(s) of Katrina.
Let up hope and pray a majority of the electorate sobers up before anything serious happens...
Posted by: Hank on December 17, 2007 09:20 AMBush stench.
Posted by: Union Machinist on December 17, 2007 10:32 AMWhat I did mean was that much of this race is going to come down to whether voters see Rossi as a moderate republican or an extremist one. In that regard much of the focus will be on things like gay rights, abortion, prayer in schools, etc.
Essentially just as Rossi will try and paint Gregoire as a socialist on a spending spree, Gregoire will paint Rossi as a member of the Christian right and an enemy of the poor.
Of course I do not think all Christians are bigots, hell Gregoire is one and I love her. While I myself am not, I have respect for many of the Christian religion.
However there are a vocal and powerful contingent who believe their religion compels them to policy position I find bigoted and wrong. When it comes right down to it religion is a choice and to the extent that it informs policy is no more immune from criticism then say Marxism.
Posted by: giffy on December 17, 2007 10:48 AMIf they pay $300,000 for a home, they want to get $300,000+ back when they sell it.
If they do the job, and pay the bills, then they expect a reward.
That's what it's all about.
When those implicit contracts are ignored, all hell breaks loose.
Governor Dino "do nothing" Rossi.
Michelle, would that be one of your imaginary friends?
There are a lot of ways to interpret the bible and it's teachings. The Catholic Church has one way, Fred Phelps has another, Mike Huckabee has a different version than both previously mentioned interpretations. I mean your talking about a 2000 year old book written by Jesus' followers some 20 to 30 years after it actually happened. Even the apostles can't get their stories straight.
I'm all for you having and expressing religious beliefs, I draw the line at having them legislated into society via the Government.
With all due respect, the less that a Democrap supermajority is able to "get done" (as you term it), the better off Washington taxpayers and citizens will be.
What a dream it would be to have tie those idiots up permanently so they can do no more harm.
REELECT DINO ROSSI!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: John Jones on December 17, 2007 01:49 PMYou sure? Seems like they could pass anything they wanted. Rossi would be nothing more than a figurehead.
What harm have they done to you personally (besides raising your taxes)?
Gregoire's motis operendi in the past has been to blame others. That may work for a few things like her $15 million error as AG.
However, it won't work as Governor.
The vast majority of citizens want a Governor who stands up and says the buck stops here.
Gregoire doesn't have that in her character.
She is surrounded by weaselly advisers always looking for a scapegoat.
It won't work this time...especially with a Democrat Majority in the House & Senate.
PS--
What ever happened to those 1000 middle management people who were going to be eliminated??
Any Olympia insider will tell you all she did was count retirees and reclassify people.
No real cuts in overhead spending.
Rossi has a list so long of Gregoire failures, he has to be very careful in how he presents these or folks eyes will glaze over. It almost sounds not believable....even though it is true.
Rossi must get all the Gregoire failures out to the public in plenty of time as individual voters have different hot buttons.
Perhaps Rossi ought to start a
Faux Pas of the Week message to voters.
And in the end....2 weeks before ballots go out, launch a comprehensive summary of
What Gregoire has cost Washington State!
My question would be what is his donor base and makeup. Are the Realtors and Building Commission still his major contributors or is his support broadened out? What is CG's base (unions, etc.)?
For Rossi to win, other than controlling KC elections counting process, he will need to broaden his base of support. While many may not like CG, she is now running as an incumbent, which will have broadened her base. She won't have a primary battle with Sims to go through. Her problem will be Eastern Washington (most likely).
The only county that really counts in this state is King. Gregoire can lose just about every other one and still be the gov if she wins big enough here. Ron "I'm as accurate as a bank" Sims will make sure the votes are there.
Therefore, it would behoove Dino to spend some time getting visibility in KC, which it doesn't seem like he's doing. Am I missing something here?
Posted by: Steve in Queen Anne on December 17, 2007 03:23 PMThe Last 5 Cent gas tax hike, was suppose to fund almost 300 million in new ferrys, to be delivered in 2008 to replace alot of the ferrys that we are hearing about today. So what have all these new taxes done thus far on the current Ferry scenerio. The new ferrys have not even been designed yet, let alone any construction begun, even though they were part of the 5 cent a gallon tax package and to be delivered in 2008.
So hang on to your pockets because Gregoire and her gang of thieves are looking at your pocketbooks yet once again for an emergency rip-off.
I'll donate and Vote for Rossi. I am sick and tired of the BS and rip off!
Posted by: gs on December 17, 2007 08:59 PM
Alot of moderate republicans I have heard personally saying they like her. it was razor thin before but now he is up against an incumbent who has gained support since the last election.
If he wants a prayers chance he needs to start campaigning on a platform of elliminating government departments and pprograms. for example the response to gregoires ferry proposal he should be asking why the state is running a ferry monopoly.
It will be interesting to watch Chrissy claim to be a Christian while bashing Rossi for his Christian views, and having given homosexuals her full support.
The voters in Washington have proven to be just that gullible.
Posted by: Independent Voter on December 18, 2007 05:16 AMThings change if you think Rossi has peaked as is now toast. Other than you and me and a few others, no one knows what or what not Gregoire and Rossi are politicking on.
Gregoire, as the incumbent, has a ton of advantage. She lost the eastside and Snohomish County. She is shoring up those votes by offering all sorts of pork. In Seattle, she is offering to remove the viaduct, which should please many anarchists.
Posted by: swatter on December 18, 2007 06:15 AMWhy is that a problem? You saying that homosexuals should not have the same rights as you?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For special RIGHTS! (-:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
- Declaration of Independence
So by your logic, creating a law that defines a marriage between a man and a woman is giving special protection to heterosexuals.
Let's legalize Gay Marriage then and stop giving special rights to Heterosexuals. =)