Rossi Campaign Cautiously Optimistic As Voter Count Continues

As of 11:57 PM, the Washington Secretary of State was reporting on its website Election Day results showing incumbent Senator Patty Murray leading challenger Dino Rossi by a razor slim margin of only 14,005 votes out of 1,430,787 counted.  At the end of the first day of counting, Murray has a lead of 50.49% to Rossi's 49.51%.  However, Rossi For Senate Campaign Manager Pat Shortridge issued a statement by Email late last night outlining some points that should have the Murray campaign sweating bullets:

• Historically in Washington, the Republican candidates improve their percentages in each county in votes counted after Election Day, usually improving their margins by 2 to 3 percentage points.

• King County, which is providing most of Sen. Murray’s margin, accounts for 30.7% of all registered voters in the state. According to County Election reports, King County only has 26.7% of the remaining ballots left to count. The rest of the state, where Rossi has a comfortable lead, will count proportionately more ballots post-Election Day.

• Spokane County, where Rossi is currently in the lead by more than 50%, still has at least 21.6% of the remaining ballots left to process, with more coming in.

• Rossi is currently leading in Pierce County by nearly 2,500 votes

• According to the Secretary of State, there are still over 508,000 estimated ballots left to process statewide.

• Again, we will know more over the next several days as ballots continue to come in and counties continue to count. We are confident that the margins we are seeing throughout Washington State, combined with the state legislative victories, will put Dino Rossi ahead by an overwhelming margin.

This election is not like previous statewide races that Rossi has run.  It is a midterm, off-Presidential cycle election.  These usually favor Republicans, that traditionally exhibit more faithful voting habits.  In addition, a Republican tidal wave is sweeping the nation, with Republicans gaining a solid majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Turnout in more conservative Washington districts is running above normal this year.  This trend is elevating Republican Party hopes, as Washington is poised to send a Republican majority of its Congressional Representatives back to D.C. come January.  Five of Washington's nine Congressional seats appear to be in Republican hands:

• District 2 John Koster is leading his opponent 50.41% to 49.59%.  This is a Republican "gain".
• District 3 Jaime Herrara is leading her opponent 52.92% to 47.08%.  This is a Republican "gain".
• District 4 Doc Hastings is leading his opponent 68.31% to 31.69%.  This is a Republican "hold".
• District 5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers is leading her opponent 64.51% to 35.49%.  This is a Republican "hold".
• District 8 Congressman Dave Reichert is leading his opponent 55% to 45%, this is a Republican "hold".

Republican gains in west-side Congressional Districts are exceeding local Party expectations.  In addition, a number of voter initiatives regarding taxes have shown a conservative voting streak.  An initiative for a state income tax has gone down in flames, while another requiring a 2/3 majority of the state legislature to raise taxes appears to be passing.  In addition, a rollback of Democratic Party approved taxes on food and bottled water appeared to be passing as well.
While the race is still too close to call, it looks like we may be calling Dino Rossi our Senator very soon.

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Cross-posted to BLOGSUNNYSIDE.COM

Yakima Tea Party Activist Calls For Hostile Takeover of Republicans

In an email being circulated by Yakima Tea Party Activist Jere Irwin, he advocates a "hostile takeover" of the Yakima County Republican Party leadership. The 14th Legislative District features a race for State Representative between two Republicans. Incumbent Norm Johnson, and challenger Michele Strobel. Johnson is considered a moderate Republican, and voted in the last legislative session to support the controversial domestic partnership bill. Strobel is running as a conservative, and has made the domestic partnership issue a central point of her campaign.

Irwin, a Strobel supporter, is upset that the Yakima County Republican Party Executive Board has chosen to endorse the incumbent, Norm Johnson. The endorsement itself has been controversial, since some of Johnson's supporters first proposed it during the primary election. Yakima County Republicans have traditionally stayed neutral in partisan primaries, until the general election cycle. However, Washington's relatively new top-two primary system has yielded a race between two Republicans. The County Executive Board decided to make an endorsement decision anyway. In a sharply divided house, the endorsement was given to Johnson. However, the Party also decided to give $500 to Strobel's campaign as well. The campaign contribution to the candidate without the endorsement has apparently not been well received by supporters of either candidate.

In the interest of full disclosure: I have attended Yakima Tea Party functions in the past, and am a recipient of Jere Irwin's mass emails. This is the total extent of my involvement with the local Tea Party groups. I am also a Republican Precinct Committee Officer in Yakima County, but am not on the Executive Board. I do not live in the 14th Legislative District, and would have preferred that the County Party stay neutral when two Republicans are running against each other.

NOTE: Jere Irwin ran unsuccessfully for Precinct Committee Officer this year. He was defeated by Al Schweppe, a member of the County Executive Board, and former candidate for State Representative.

For those that are interested, I am posting the entire text of Irwin's email here:




Dear Tea Party Contributors.


The main statement of The Tea Party Manifesto declared by Dick Armey in the Wall Street Journal is…

“The tea party movement,” with its intention of radically cutting government down to Constitutional size, “is not seeking a junior partnership with the Republican Party, but a hostile takeover of it.”

If you agree with Dick Armey former U.S. Representative from Texas's and House Majority Leader (1995–2003), we have a serious problem in the Republican Party Leadership in Yakima. To their credit they do a good job of supporting Republican incumbents. They don’t care if they’re good or bad in the opinion of most Tea Party supporters.

When they had a choice between Norm Johnson who is pro-choice and a sponsor of the homosexual marriage bill or Michele Strobel, a Godly candidate who has stated her position clearly in her campaign, the republican leadership chose Norm Johnson.

Let’s take a look at the Republican Party Leadership in Yakima.
Chairman - Max Golladay - He didn't like the idea of endorsing Norm Johnson in the primary.

Vice-Chair - Rita Hanses - A loyal Norm Johnson supporter. She was the one that made the motion to endorse Norm Johnson last month at the Republican Central meeting.

Secretary - Laurel Young - A loyal Norm Johnson supporter. She voted to endorse Norm Johnson in the primary and for the general election at the Republican central committee meeting.

Treasurer - Stein Williams - He voted against endorsing Norm Johnson last month.

State Committeewoman - Sandra Scherr - A loyal Norm Johnson supporter. Voted both times to endorse Norm Johnson.

State Committeeman - Al Schweppe - To my knowledge he hasn't endorsed Norm Johnson. He is NOT pro-life and that is troubling. He is politically ambitious and has the desire to run for the state legislature.

1st Commissioner District Director - Norma Joiner - Pastor at a church in Tieton. Not a supporter of Norm and voted against endorsing Norm. But she let the Central Republican Committee use her name in a newspaper ad endorsing Norm.

2nd Commissioner District Director - Laura Sample - One of the newest members of the board. Voted twice against endorsing Norm.

3rd Commissioner District Director - Laurie Beltman - Voted against endorsing Norm. She has made it public that she will not seek re-election.

I believe we need a hostile takeover of the Republican Party Leadership in Yakima.

If the Republicans elect Norm Johnson instead of Michele Strobel for our 14th District Representative we will have failed the National Tea Party movement.

Michele Strobel is campaigning her heart out, doorbelling, speaking in churches to register voters, speaking at Tea Party events, waving signs and will be working at her fair booth, while Norm Johnson is basically sitting on his duff depending on the donations from outside the area, the support of the liberal Herald-Republic, Bruce Smith and the rest of the good old boys that are pro-choice and pro-homosexual marriage.

If you agree with me, this is what we need to do.

First - The Yakima Tea Party partners need to indorse Michele Strobel for the 14th District Representative. We are working on that.

Second – We need to immediately write numerous letters to the editor in support of Michele Strobel. The Herald-Republic won’t print many of them just prior to election when the time is right.

Third - We need to push hard with letters to the editor for a debate between Norm and Michele on the issues. Probably Norm will decline. But either way that will help Michele.

Fourth – We need those who can attend the Republican committee meetings to consider running for a Leadership position.

Fifth – We need you to call Skip Schoff at 494-7819 if you have a good location for a yard sign.

Six – We need those who can to go doorbelling in your neighborhood and leaving Michele brochures. Please consider inviting those to a “meet Michele Social” that you could host. The committee would provide desert.

Seventh – We need to send our small contributions $10, $50, or a $100 to:

Committee to Elect Michele Strobel

103 West Fremont Avenue

PMB 177

Selah WA 98942

These funds will compete with the large donations Norm gets from PAC (Political Action Committees) and from the other side of the mountains.

Michele is only 9% behind Norm and closing fast. The Tea Party Contributors are making up the difference.

Thank you for your support,

Jere Irwin

Related Articles
Washington's top-two primary gets voters the better choice (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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Cross Posted At BLOGSUNNYSIDE.COM

The case for unity.

I voted for Clint Didier. He was a breath of fresh air. Someone with strong principals and an unyielding commitment to voicing them whenever anyone would listen. I like that, I respect that, and I also realized that you can’t win a statewide election in this state, at least not this year, by doing that.

Still, he got every vote in our household (including the pets, after all this is King County) because I want more people like him running, gaining name recognition, and positioning themselves for future campaigns. We knew that he had no chance to beat the "Mom in Worn Out Tennis Shoes" but this was the time to cast our "protest vote".

Now every hand (and paw) in our home is poised to vote for Dino Rossi this November. It has been a decade since a conservative in this state has had a very real chance to win a Senate race and we are not going to look back on this election with regret because we were not smart enough to do the right thing.

By nature conservatives put logic ahead of emotion. They do what needs to be done even if their heart wishes that they didn’t have to. This is called leadership. It is like the Sci-Fi movie where someone has to stuff the glove to their space suit into the hole in order to save the space ship. They know they are giving up their life but they are saving many more. As Spock put it, “The needs of the many, outweigh, the needs of the few, or the one”.

Right now our country desperately needs to reverse course. We have to shove Patty into the hole in the space ship so it can survive to win the battle with the evil alien dictator in 2012. That means we have to be smart. No matter what we are better off sending someone to D.C. that may not be what we emotionally want, but we logically need.

According to last month’s PPP poll 91% of Democrats in this state are going to vote for Patty Murray. Does that mean that 91% of Democrats like her? Of course not.
The latest Rasmussen poll shows:

• Only 12% of the people in this state are not angry with the current policies in of the Federal Government.
• Just 28% think our representatives in Congress are the best person for the job.
• Only 40% feel that their local representatives in Congress deserve to be re-elected.

So clearly most Democrats can’t stand Murray either but are voting for her because she is the only option they have.

In this state about 30% of the voters are “independent” and Rossi has a solid lead in that area. So what is going to make the difference in this election? Republicans. That same PPP poll shows that only 88% of the Republicans were committed to voting for Rossi. So while most of the polls show this as a dead heat it is a race that is in our hands, under our control, and we can win it and win it decisively not by convincing Democrats to jump ship, or away Independents into voting for Dino, but by simply understanding the simple logic that if you are a Republican you need to step up and do the right thing and leave your emotions at home.

Your “protest vote” was cast in the primary, but come General election anything but a Rossi vote is a vote for Murray, and to continue the course of the Obama agenda.
So for the first time in 10 years the race will be won or lost by how intelligent Republicans are. Some call Dino a RINO, but I contend the real RINO’s are anyone that isn’t smart enough to realize that a vote that isn’t for Rossi is a vote for Murray. Don’t look back on this opportunity with regret. In 2 years Clint Didier can run against Cantwell, or someone else may step up to replace her, but that election will be easier to win if we fire Patty in November.

So join me now in voting for Dino Rossi. He may not be the first choice, but he is the ONLY choice.

Rossi Ready To Grill Patty Murray

U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi recently challenged 18-year incumbent Patty Murray to a series of debates. Murray responded to the Rossi campaign by offering to debate only two times, and only in late October, just prior to the election.

Rossi has suggested that they have a total of six debates, to cover all the major media markets in Washington, with an additional debate in Seattle and also on national TV. Murray is refusing to go around the state to discuss issues with Rossi, despite this being the fourth time she is running a Senate race.

This Patty Is Done

Putting Patty Murray on a stage with Dino Rossi is probably the last thing her campaign wants to do. They know that Patty will be cooked, if she has to actually think about what she is saying without consultants providing a script for her.

In a letter of response to Murray, Dino Rossi's Campaign Manager Pat Shortridge states:

I can understand the Senator’s reluctance to debate, given her record over the past several years on spending, taxing, and failing to get the economy growing; but I think she owes it to the people of Washington to come out from behind the consultants and negative ads, throw away the usual playbook of agreeing to 2 debates in late October, and instead, engage Dino and the voters.

After all, Senator Murray is an 18-year incumbent. She’s a senior member of the Senate Democrat Leadership. This is her fourth time running in a US Senate race. This is still a blue state that went overwhelmingly for President Obama. Yet, she can’t – or won’t - go before the voters and make the case for the votes she’s cast, discuss what she views as her accomplishments, and lay out her ideas for solving the problems we face more than twice? That seems to be quite a personal repudiation of her own record.

Shortridge concluded his letter by reiterating that Rossi is willing to be flexible on times, locations, and other challenges the Senator may have relative to the Senate schedule.

Related Articles

• Rossi Proposes 6 Debates With Murray (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Murray: Just two debates with Rossi (seattlepi.com)

Didier Favors Impregnation By Rape

Didier Speaking at a Tea Party Event in Yakima, July 2010

As recently as May 28th, Clint Didier was touting how he was a team player, and would support whoever faced off with Patty Murray this November.  This is what he said on the David Boze radio show:

"If it is Patty Murray and whoever - it's whoever. Vote against Patty Murray. And we gotta stimulate this movement in the state of Washington that whoever comes out of that primary we gotta get behind. And believe me, if it's not me, whoever it is, I'm gonna get behind them. I'm gonna work as hard for them as I did for me. Because it's not about me. It's about our kids, our grandkids, and assuring they have that same shot at the American Dream. It's about America."

Following the primary election however, Didier reversed course and refused to endorse Dino Rossi, who will face off with Murray.  Didier instead drew up a list of demands for Rossi to sign, before giving an endorsement.  These demands include having Rossi sign a pro-life pledge, and promising to vote against increased spending and taxes.

Nevermind that these are things that Rossi has stood for all along.  In fact, he has a legislative voting record of balancing the state budget, and holding the line on taxes.  He introduced legislation to protect the unborn while in the state senate, and is a Roman-Catholic.  Rossi is on record as having said that abortion is morally wrong.

Near the end of the primary campaign, Didier attempted to smear Rossi as pro-abortion.  His evidence for this consisted of one vote Rossi took in the state senate.  The vote was to allow women who are victims of rape, to take the morning-after pill.  By opposing this, are we to assume that Didier is in favor of impregnating women by rape?  If we follow the logic of the Didier campaign, this is the case.

Rossi might make exceptions for women who are victims of rape and incest.  Didier is making clear he favors impregnation by these methods.  I would expect better of a farmer from eastern Washington.

Rossi is a bona-fide fiscal conservative.  He has signed the Tea Party backed "Contract From America."  He has a voting record in the state senate that showcases his philosophy.  In addition, his two statewide campaigns for governor have gotten voters acquainted with him.  Now that he is the top dog for the U.S. Senate race, Didier is showing us how much of a sore-loser he is.

Didier is also showing how dishonest he is, not only in trying to paint Rossi as a tax and spend politician, or questioning his pro-life beliefs, but also breaking his own promise to support the Republican facing Patty Murray in November.

As a person who is pro-life, I would rather have Dino Rossi in the Senate, than Patty Murray.  What's wrong with you, Clint Didier?

References:

Palousitics: Didier: "Whoever it is (who wins the primary), I'm gonna get behind them"

NWDigest.com: Fuiten: Dino Rossi IS Pro-Life

Red County: The President, Patty and the Primary

Rossi Challenges Murray To Debate

Dino Rossi speaking at the 2010 Washington State Republican Party Convention

Dino Rossi is challenging Patty Murray to a series of debates to be held in Washington in the weeks leading up to the November general election.  This is according to a letter that Dino Rossi sent to Senator Patty Murray:

Dear Sen. Murray:

The U.S. Senate race is one of the most important elections in the State of Washington in 2010.  Given the importance of this election, and the desire for voters to make an informed decision this fall, I propose we hold five debates in Washington State, in addition to one nationally televised debate.  I further propose we hold one debate in each media market hosted by local civic organizations, with two debates in the Seattle area. 

The five debates in Washington State would be Lincoln-Douglas style, in which we would be allotted equal time to make opening statements, ask questions of each other, introduce new ideas, or defend policy positions.  A timekeeper would ensure each side adheres to time limits which are mutually agreed upon.

This is an opportunity for us to question each other on various policy positions in a manner which allows the public, not the press or interest groups, to dictate the issues covered. 

In order to ensure the maximum number of voters see the debates so they are able to make an informed decision, we should invite television stations in each market to broadcast the debates.  Additionally, as there is limited time before general election ballots are mailed, I propose that we hold one debate a week beginning the week of September 6, 2010.

 Will Patty Murray accept the challenge?  Stay tuned...

Patty Murray Launches Negative Primary Ad

Patty Murray, 18 year Senate veteran, has launched a negative ad against Dino Rossi, even before the primary election has been held.  This is in contrast to Dino Rossi, who launched a positive ad today, calling for change in Washington D.C. that will actually help people in the state of Washington.

US Senate Candidate Dino Rossi

During a press conference today, Dino Rossi said that the functional unemployment rate in Washington is 17.4%.  This number includes those receiving unemployment, people giving up looking for work, as well as underemployed skilled workers that are delivering pizzas.

Rossi said that two out of 10 Washington workers being functionally unemployed is too high.  As he goes around the state, talking with people and business owners, they talk about being worried about making their mortgage payments, and feeding their kids.

He went on to discuss how the healthcare reform is a tax and spending bill, with a little healthcare sprinkled on top.  Murray’s 60th, and deciding vote on this has killed jobs in Washington.

“Even the Chinese government is telling us we are spending too much money” said Rossi.

“We need private sector jobs”, explained Rossi, “instead of more government spending.”

Rossi called for extending all tax cuts enacted under the previous administration, and simplifying the tax code to make it fair and predictable so small businesses can hire more people.

He noted that in Murray’s ad, she is criticizing some of the same legislation that she voted for, such as bailouts of failed businesses.

Rossi said that Murray has not had a private sector job in her adult life, and does not understand entrepreneurs willing to risk it all in order to chase after their dream of making a better life in America.

When asked about energy policy, Rossi responded by saying we need an “all of the above approach”, which includes wind, solar, and even nuclear power in order to achieve energy independence.  He specifically called for continuing to use the vitrification plant at Hanford to turn radioactive sludge into a glass product that can be safely stored at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.  Murray has remained silent on Senator Reid’s attempts to shut that down, until Rossi made it an issue in his campaign.

Dino Rossi’s Ad:




Patty Murray's negative ad attacking Dino Rossi:

Coffee Talk With Dino Rossi

Dino Rossi came to Sunnyside, Washington today, and we had a conversation about his campaign at Guerra's Coffee Co. on South First Street.



U.S. Senate Candidate Dino Rossi with Aaron Guerra, owner of Guerra's Coffee Co. in Sunnyside, WA.

I asked Mr. Rossi how small businesses, such as the one in which we were enjoying some refreshing beverages, could benefit by his election to the U.S. Senate:


Rossi responded by saying "I will be one of the few Senators in Washington D.C. that knows what it is like to sign the front side of a paycheck."  He went on to describe his own personal experience that includes starting out at the age of 17 working as a janitor.  He said as a business owner, he knows what it is like to work with no salary, and no benefits.  "If you don't work, you don't eat", said Rossi, about being a small business entrepreneur.

Expressing concerns about the new financial reform bill being passed in Congress, Rossi said it will kill liquidity in banks and financial institutions which provide loans to small businesses.

Rossi pointed out that Patty Murray is proud of the healthcare bill she supported, which will be a $500 billion tax increase, taking money away from small businesses, putting it into government instead, with the I.R.S. being in charge.  The ultimate goal of the program Murray supports is to have a single payer system, which will be run with all the compassion of an I.R.S. agent.  Rossi said that is not the kind of healthcare system he wants, and that most Americans don't want either.

Murray has never had a private sector job in her life, said Rossi.  Since the 1960's, 64% of job growth has come from small businesses, and it is increasingly difficult for them to find loans and investors to fund their growth and expansion.  Rossi said that too many in Washington D.C. have no experience as an entrepreneur, or being a business owner, and that it is unrealistic to expect that solutions to our economic problems will come from them.

When asked about the call from some people to simply vote out all the incumbents, Rossi said we must pay attention to how people in office are actually voting, and that we shouldn't always paint with such a broad brush.  However, he said that "Frankly, both Republicans and Democrats contributed to the out of control spending and growth in government that caused this problem."

He said that for small businesses to succeed, they need low or modest taxation.  They also need stable, predictable, regulation from government.  Acting in opposition to this, is Senator Patty Murray, who Rossi pointed out, has voted for every single spending bill since 2004.

He said that the uncontrolled spending started under Bush, but has continued on steroids under Obama, with the full support of Patty Murray.  "We can not stimulate our way to a good economy.  What part of broke does Murray not understand?", said Rossi.

Rossi raised $1.4 million in one month of campaigning during the last quarter.  Murray raised $1.6 million, but took the entire quarter to do it.  I asked Rossi how competitive he felt his campaign would be, in the context of fundraising.  He said he was fortunate to have so many people contribute to his campaign already, and that he felt confident he would be successful in raising enough to tell his story, and defend himself from attacks.

"Murray has an indefensible record of taxing and spending", he said.  Although he felt confident about raising enough to tell his story, he also felt that his campaign needs to do even more.  Rossi pointed out that he has over 29,000 people who "like" his page on Facebook, and follow updates from this campaign there.  He is impressed with the tremendous support and communication abilities that Facebook offers.  Facebook supporters used their friends and contacts to turn out a large group of supporters for him at a parade in Skagit County recently.  This all happened at the last-minute, with the supporters spontaneously showing up to march with him during the event.  Supporters also follow him on Twitter @DinoRossiWA, and get updates from his campaign headquarters @DinoRossiHQ.

Rossi pointed out that he has been successful in the past campaigning against an incumbent for State Senate, even when that earlier opponent outspent him by a margin of 20%.  "The reality is that I have the support of the people with me; Murray's number one source of fundraising is from lobbyists."

Before leaving to continue campaigning in eastern Washington, Rossi said that he needs the support of everyone, by going to his campaign website, dinorossi.com, volunteering, knocking on doors, and giving financial support in any amount they are comfortable contributing.  He also said that once elected, he needs people to keep supporting him, and not to abandon him.  He will need input from the community, and wants citizens to stay involved to help implement the major course correction that he and other conservative candidates hope to bring to Washington D.C.