On TV as of today:
Note that the ad is generally positive, with only a soft contrast with Darcy Burner at the end.
Furthermore, the US Chamber of Commerce ad that's on the airwaves now too - though not on YouTube I believe - is also an upbeat spot, praising Dave Reichert's work on health care. Thus, not the "ads that will smear Burner as a tax raiser" as predicted by Joel Connelly.
Which leads me to a gut feeling. Reichert's first ad, coming only ten days before mail-in ballots are sent to voters, is mostly about him. If he was behind it would be about Darcy Burner. Couple that with the US Chamber choosing to go positive rather than negative and this has the feeling of a campaign where there is some private polling data - perhaps from multiple sources - that shows Reichert with a modest lead in a close race. Not huge, still in the vulnerable range thanks to the demographics of the district, but not inconsequential either.
But again, that's just my gut.
UPDATE: more hints Reichert is ahead, Darcy Burner finally discovered the economy is an issue...
Her ad is much more negative than Reichert's. Let's not discuss the irony of the candidate in a trade-dependent state who doesn't support trade deals.
Exit question for reporters: how does Darcy Burner, a potential rookie in Congress, propose to create "new jobs that can never be outsourced." Does the government create jobs or do companies that actually hire people?
Follow-up: once Darcy Burner actually figures out who creates jobs, how then does she propose that government dictate to private companies that those businesses can't control the location of their own employees?
Her rhetoric is pure piffle.
Posted by Eric Earling at October 07, 2008 08:12 PM | Email ThisUh we're not under taxed in this state, we're over spent by 3.2 Billion, and actually probably double that would be just fine to cut.
Oh, and by the way, the Surge worked and our troops will be coming home as hero's.
Kinda tough to run against them odds.
Posted by: gs on October 7, 2008 09:24 PMGood ad. Burner looks unappealing in the little bit that he does show her.
Posted by: Michele on October 7, 2008 10:08 PMWhat does that mean? "...thanks to the fact that most people in the district don't like his policies"?
"Does the government create jobs or do companies that actually hire people?"
Both. The government creates jobs of the sort that Reichert has held all his career; companies create jobs of the sort that Burner has held all her career.
(But I agree with you that her promises on jobs, like most politicians', are largely rhetoric.)
Posted by: Bruce on October 7, 2008 11:59 PMHer fellow Democrats thought so much of her ability they appointed her to serve in several positions of public responsibility like the Federal Commission on.....no? Oh then there was the State Blue Ribbon Panel on......nope, nothing there? Ok, Well at least they put her on the County board of....Really? wow. Of course her years of Grassroots Organizing and mentoring obviously helped to folks in her local small community when she was appointed to the Committee on......Geez.
Posted by: Huh? on October 8, 2008 03:46 AMThe gov does NOT create jobs. It's takes money (taxes) from working people to make gov jobs that never put money back into the area. It's a zero sum game. Gov does NOT make money "period"
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 8, 2008 06:09 AMYou may want to look at this. Palin's e-mail hacker is in trouble. To bad the MSN tried to hide the story. Geee where is CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC or even FOX.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/08/arrest-made-palin-hacking-case/
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 8, 2008 06:35 AMI predict that Dave will mop up the floor with Darcy, while she endlessly tells us that "If elected, I'll support President Obama all the way!" as she did in the last debate. Further, I predict that after Dave delivers the knockout punch, the media will declare Darcy to be the winner.
However, if you want, you can submit questions to:
connects@KCTS9.org.
Also there was a candidate interview session earlier this week between Reichert & Burner, hosted by the Seattle PI and available online here.
Posted by: Smoley on October 8, 2008 12:53 PMShe's such a rube.
Posted by: G Jiggy on October 8, 2008 02:55 PMI like this bit...
Burner ended almost every response by saying there's a need to "send new people to Washington, D.C." She said it so many times that at one point, Reichert reminded her that Democrats hold the majority in Congress.
Reichert's campaign passed out a "Burner Bingo" game to the crowd of about 250 people. It included terms like "tech-savvy" (which Burner did say) and "anti-choice" (which she didn't) as well as other campaign buzz-words.