A little discussed fact that is making the race for Governor so competitive is that for the first time in state history, we are seeing candidates and independent supporters who are fully aware of the importance of reaching voters well before ballots hit mailboxes later this coming week.
Not only are both sides recognizing it, they have the resources and wherewithal to do something about it.
That's why Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi have been going at it on radio & TV with vigor since the middle of summer.
That's why BIAW/ChangePAC and Evergreen Progress were waging war on their respective sides even before that.
And that's why the RGA is pumping $4 million into the race after Labor Day, including four separate, targeted pieces of direct mail already in voters' hands a full week before ballots arrive.
Furthermore, there are signs of additional activity down the ballot, beyond the traditional door-belling in force that legislative candidates rely on in competitive races (or at least they should, if they want to win). PDC filings show that "People for Jobs," a political arm of the business community, has already invested in three positive pieces of direct mail and a round of phone calls in support of three Republican legislative challengers Kevin Parker in the 6th LD (Spokane), Jan Angel in the 26th LD (Kitsap), and Toby Nixon in the 45th LD (north end of East King County suburbs).
That's a healthy chunk of activity this early in a legislative race. It speaks to the fact political hands increasingly recognize the importance of shaping voter opinion before ballots are in people's hands - as opposed to the traditional method of having the first piece of campaign mail arrive with the ballots themselves.
It also means that more conservative minded strategists are recognizing that while finishing strong is nice - as GOP candidates have done in assorted competitive races across the state in recent years (last discussed at some length here) - starting out strong is pretty darn important too.
Posted by Eric Earling at October 12, 2008 12:58 PM | Email This