Rossi raises GOP hopes of taking governor's seat

Saturday, May 29, 2004

Rossi raises GOP hopes of taking governor's seat
Republican's style seen as unifying for often splintered party

By ANGELA GALLOWAY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

BELLEVUE -- Many Republican faithful have waited 20 years for Dino Rossi to take the stage.


"What got me in this race was my wife," said Rossi, sharing the stage with his wife, Terry, and four children. He told the crowd of about 1,500, "She said to me, 'What kind of state do you want our children growing up in?' ... It's time for a change. It's truly time for a change," said Rossi, who later rattled off a list of several states that recently elected their first Republican governors in
decades.

<snip>

The key to his appeal is he is conservative enough for right-leaning GOP activists who attend state conventions and volunteer on the campaign trail, but moderate enough for the critical suburban swing vote, said Chris Vance, chairman of the state Republican Party.

<snip>

Rossi said a lot of people consider him a moderate, but he stopped short of assigning himself any label. "I guess I'm kind of an eclectic Republican that comes from a conservative Democratic family," said the Sammamish real estate executive.

<snip>

And Rossi enjoys a key advantage over Democrats in the race for the open seat. Unlike Democrats, he gets to skate easily through the primary with no serious competition.

The Republican Party planned it that way. Chairman Vance made clear he would support only one candidate and handpicked Rossi after several others declined. It's part of his aggressive efforts at party "unity" -- after many years of it splintering over the gubernatorial race.

More at this

governors seat.

LOL, so that Gregoire-Sims race is real close huh? Oh wait a minute, no it's not....

You know, most times when I mention Sims at the DU other than the Washington board, whoever answers assumes I'm talking about the online video game! Frankly, I don't see a huge choice here other then to wait and see who winds up as the Dems choice. I fear the Washington Democrats may lose this race.

P.S. Dino....it's good to hear from you again.

I was outta town, nothin bad. I like both Sims and Gregoire for different reasons, but alas, I don't live in Washington anymore, so...

I don't think Sims could win against Rossi, and that's saying something since Rossi is a no-name do-nothing state house member.

Gregoire, although centrist, is not the DINO many DUers portray her as, and I'm really rather proud that she was the attourney general in charge of the tobacco settlement, which no matter how you look at it, is a landmark case.

Gregoire looks as though she'll skate through the primaries (WHY is the primary in September though!?), and win decisively in November against Rossi.

My concern is that he's much less threatening than a GOP candidate like Ellen Craswell or John Carlson, and could therefore pick up some swing support. I don't really know. I think Gregoire could certainly win it.

Jay Buhner was out fundraising for Rossi, as from what i have heard, Rossi is very anti labor. Unions have served Jay very well, but I guess he has his now. x( x(

Seems like so many athletes are repukes. I used to like Jay too. :(

but having now met both Gregoire and Sims, and having heard both speak several times, I am wholeheartedly behind Ron Sims. He can rally a crowd like nobody's business. He has fire, passion, and courage, and I've always admired his political acumen.

I DO believe he can defeat Rossi, handily. But I will gladly vote for whichever of the two wins the primary against that lame-o Repug corporate shill.