Democratic party turns on state senator (Tim Sheldon, D - Potlatch)

OLYMPIA -- The state Democratic Party announced Tuesday that it will work to unseat an incumbent Democratic senator, saying he no longer represents the party.

The party endorsed Kyle Taylor Lucas in the Democratic primary for the 35th District, saying longtime Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, was a DINO -- Democrat in Name Only.

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Sheldon has raised the ire of party loyalists for years, endorsing President Bush and 2004 Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, and sometimes voting with Republicans in the Legislature on such issues as gun rights and taxes.

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"The Democrats want to purge the party of any infidels like me who won't toe the party line," Sheldon said. "I stand up to the party. I will not sacrifice my district for a party-line vote."

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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/283073_dems30.html

worked out for him. The space the repubs gave him in return for his work for them.