Sound Politics: RGA Turns the page

October 08, 2008

RGA Turns the page

Mercy has shined upon us as the RGA has moved off of its Casino Chris ads into different territory. Their latest two spots:

The first ad seems more effective than the latter. Either way, it's backed by a large buy on broadcast and cable (about $421,000 worth of air time for now).

On a related front, the RGA is in for at least $4 million into this race based on the latest PDC filings. They have about $1.7 million of that left to spend after the aforementioned TV purchase. Of note since it escapes the ad war battle that is more public, the RGA has also spent nearly $650,000 on direct mail. Not a massive amount, but sizable for still being 10 days from mail-in ballots being in voters' hands.

By comparison, Evergreen Progress has raised about $4.7 million for its anti-Dino Rossi campaign. $2 million of that is from the DGA; the rest largely from assorted unions (including $900,000 from the NEA & WEA).

The big difference? Evergreen Progress spent over $2 million on ineffective TV ads before the August primary. The RGA's expenditures have all been for the General Election.

Posted by Eric Earling at October 08, 2008 07:33 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Oh man this is such sleaze tactics!!!

Posted by: Crusader on October 8, 2008 07:24 PM

2. I agree... it's really hard to believe that Queen Chrissy, Tribal Ho, cares so little about us and our families.

Can't get sleazier than that.

Posted by: Hinton on October 8, 2008 07:32 PM

3. I worked with one of these, and had no idea until he didn't show up one day to work.

I was worried about him that morning, later after I read the court case, I was wondering how he ever ended up in this state and at this job.

Now I know

Posted by: gs on October 8, 2008 08:04 PM

4. We're not allowed to know if they move into our neighborhood anymore? More info on when that changed...

Posted by: Michele on October 8, 2008 08:17 PM

5. I don't think this will work. I also think it is deceptive; Gregoire didn't "allow" sex offenders to register as homeless -- the state legislature did. I also think these sorts of scary, negative ads are less effective against female candidates than they are against men.

Just like Obama is using the economy to hammer McCain, Rossi should be using the economy to hammer Gregoire. Although I recognize Rossi is not behind these two ads, I think the RGA should be able to recognize what the issues are in Washington State and custom tailor their ads accordingly.

Posted by: Oddest Ever on October 8, 2008 08:53 PM

6. I don't think this will work. I also think it is deceptive; Gregoire didn't "allow" sex offenders to register as homeless -- the state legislature did.

Did she sign the bill?

Honest question, I don't know anything about the issue, but if she did she can hardly blame "the legislature". That's why the Governor gets a veto pen.

Posted by: Cliff on October 8, 2008 08:56 PM

7. Oddest - this will backfire HUGE on Rossi.

Posted by: Crusader on October 8, 2008 08:58 PM

8. Cliff - there is no such thing as a "Veto pen". More GOP fiction!

Posted by: Crusader on October 8, 2008 09:01 PM

9. Gregoire helped hide felon sex offender because then she can give them voter registration forms.

Posted by: Jeff B. on October 8, 2008 09:42 PM

10. Sex offender registration dates back to well before Christine Gregoire was governor; it dates back to the early 1990's at least. My legal research skills are pretty bad, but it looks to me that the language that regards sex offenders "without a fixed address" dates back to 1999. So Gregoire wasn't governor then.

But I really think my point is that it is so easy to attack Gregoire with the truth that it is not necessary to attack her with lies. And attacking her with lies can really undermine the cause -- especially when the attacks are coming from out of state.

Posted by: Oddest Ever on October 8, 2008 10:10 PM

11. The Republican Sheriff and Republican Prosecuting Attorney in King County have a lot more to do with failing to keep track of 1,300 convicted sex offenders than does the incumbent Governor.

Posted by: Richard Pope on October 9, 2008 04:26 AM

12. Darcy Burner and/or independent expenditure groups need to start running a similar ad against Dave Reichert. Convicted sex offenders are required to register with the COUNTY SHERIFF -- a position that Reichert held between 1995 and 2004. I am sure that there were hundreds of sex offenders in King County that they lost track of, or who were permitted to register as "homeless", when Reichert was Sheriff.

Posted by: Richard Pope on October 9, 2008 04:30 AM

13. Governors are ultimately responsible for governing the State. They have the power to shape regulations. Regarding "homeless" sex offenders, the Governor may chose to shape regulations. Chris, apparently chose not to shape regulations regarding "homeless" sex offenders. 1,300 sex offenders let loose on society is the price we pay for Democrat leadership.

Posted by: Snuffy on October 9, 2008 07:08 AM

14. Does anybody know what happened to that "Negotiating table" ad, where Gregoire's people keep requiring the Indians lower and lower amounts and the Indians are scratching their heads?

That was hilarious. Anybody have a link to it?

Posted by: Cliff on October 9, 2008 07:44 AM

15. I used to be able to pinpoint the addresses of sex offenders and get a picture. Now you can only get within a half mile or so. Try it.

http://pso.co.pierce.wa.us/

I don't know how much Gregoire is responsible for this. A few months ago she was touting some new program that sounded good until you got into it and realized it did little more than was being done.

Posted by: scott on October 9, 2008 12:11 PM

16. #8 Crusader. Nice try.

Washington State Constitution: SECTION 12 VETO POWERS. Every act which shall have passed the legislature shall be, before it becomes a law, presented to the governor. If he approves, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have originated,

Posted by: Calvin A on October 10, 2008 02:35 PM

17. Unfortunately, Calvin A, governors cannot veto laws that were passed before he (or she) was governor.

I am at a loss to understand why so many of us think that Gregoire has anything to do with this circumstance.

She is, ultimately, responsible for a projected $3,200,000,000 budget shortfall next year. Why not focus on that? Economic issues win "change" elections; lies do not.

Mark my words: this cannot be Rossi's narrative for the rest of the campaign if he intends to win.

Posted by: Oddest Ever on October 13, 2008 11:49 PM