For the first time in this campaign, Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire are squared off in directly competing TV ads, marking a new phase in the contest...even though neither campaign is doing much to talk about the spots besides popping them up on YouTube.
First, from Rossi:
There is clearly blood in the water on the issue of gas prices, inflation, and the general feeling that we aren't getting our money's worth for the taxes we pay to Olympia. Rossi will be incredibly well served if he can capitalize on this issue, especially since Gregoire's campaign conspicuously avoids discussing the general angst in the electorate (a delicate dance that has become almost comical).
The immediate response from Gregoire:
This comeback is somewhat bizarre given the obvious problem that while Rossi voted for the nickel gas tax increase in 2003, Gregoire then advocated for and signed an additional 9.5 cent hike in 2005 - a move Rossi publicly opposed. That's a clear point of separation Gregoire's campaign would obviously like to obfuscate - even as they've made an odd choice to engage on gas taxes of all issues.
The rest of her ad recycles some of the same complaints from 2004 against the bi-partisan budget Rossi worked on in the state Senate, which was approved by a Democratic-controlled House and signed by Governor Locke. There's little reason to think that attacks which couldn't stop Rossi from outperforming the Republican ticket last time around will have more impact now.
Meanwhile, note the continued dissonance between the ad campaigns. Rossi's ads feature him, speaking directly to the camera (and the electorate). Gregoire's ads are narrated, either by her or a male voice. It's a continued signal one candidate connects with voters easier than the other...even before you start talking about the substance of the ads themselves.
Cross-posted at the Examiner & The Next Right.
Posted by Eric Earling at August 07, 2008 11:58 PM | Email ThisHey chrissy - we are not the rubes you think we are... or hope we are.
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on August 8, 2008 12:29 AMRossi says he'd do something, yet his transportation plan is built on the same gas taxes he's now complaining about.
That's double talk, not straight talk.
Is it leadership? Or change? Hardly.
It sounds like the same sort of pandering that helped destroy GOP majorities in the legislature and the same denial on transportation that is chiefly responsible for years of doing nothing about traffic congestion.
Posted by: jan on August 8, 2008 07:31 AMEven the Democrats aren't buying it. George Bush is out of the political picture, and that scheme doesn't work for Darcy Burner, either.
I was at one "heart of darkness" meeting that Dino was invited to speak at, comprised of 90% Democrats, and when he said in response to a snarky question: "I'm not a huge fan of the initiative process for solving large-scale problems because we should just try some actual LEADERSHIP in Olympia!" he got a STANDING OVATION from 80% of the crowd.
Every Democrat I knew was standing and applauding. I about fell out of my chair.
Keep up the good work, Queen Christine! Don't change that message!
Posted by: Cryptometaphor on August 8, 2008 07:39 AMSimple questions for each voter to ask themselves.
Frankly, I haven't noticed a drop of improvement.
It's gotten worse.
It's going to be a long season of Gregoire running away from her record. The ads have gotten more and more thin as they go and not reflecting at all well on her.
BTW it took 2 1/2 hours to drive from Bellevue to Olympia last night using the carpool lane. Thanks Christine- we've learned to not make plans with our families anymore after work- we are just happy to make it home before dark on the longest days of summer.
Posted by: Andy on August 8, 2008 08:20 AMGive it up: It ain't workin'. Ain't gonna work.
Posted by: Methow Ken on August 8, 2008 09:26 AMI have seen one ad from Dino, that has at the very end mentions this change. Yes, a deep desire for change is there, but the died in the wool Democratic do not realize how deep in the sand, their heads have been.
Get out there, show the truth and ask the Democratic voter, to think about the truth, when you fill out that ballot, think! Think about the truth and the truth is change to a Republican controled state and country.
Posted by: Sam Cole on August 8, 2008 01:46 PMSeeing the "7th inning stretch brought to you by DINO Rossi for gov." shows me that he understands that folks who listen or watch news and politics all day long already have their minds made up.
30% D vs. 30% R.
Finally reaching out to the 40% who have real lives...
Posted by: Poindexter P. Parkenfarker on August 8, 2008 02:23 PMYou can use commercials to point out our sliding economy.
Point out the fact that democrats haven't done a thing for our schools, except claim they will make the failing system better each election (something the dems say every election but surprisingly nothing changes).
Point out that our transportation issues are getting worse on the I-5 corridor, not better.
Point out that, although they are supposed to be the compassionate ones we still have to vote special levies to fund emergency services, education, libraries, etc.
All my democrat friends say things like, "Just wait 'til Bush is out of office." Just wait 'til the groundwork is laid. Just wait .... ad-nauseum.
WHAT?!?! Wait for what?!?!
As Christine points out, ignore the national. Well OK. That means the WA State issues, by definition are the WA State Democrats fault. My friends still wouldn't ever vote Republican. Sadly Bush's perceived incompetence in office has only solidified the, "I won't ever vote Republican," mindset.
Posted by: MrRcguy on August 10, 2008 11:18 AM