Is the Gregoire candidacy growing weak? Not surprisingly, that's what local conservative pundit Eric Earling thinks. But you know things aren't going well for the Democratic governor when someone at the Stranger says Gregoire is running a "lackluster, defensive campaign." Erica C. Barnett writes:
Rossi comes across as calm, soothing, and folksy–the antithesis of Gregoire's agitated, alarmist, out-of-touch-with-regular-folks persona. ... Rossi sounded like he was telling the truth. ... If Gregoire wants to hold on to her job, she's going to have to do a lot more than snipe that Rossi's distorting her record–she's going to have to make the case that her record makes her worth keeping.
Ouch. Gregoire and Rossi will debate tonight at 7:30 p.m. If you didn't catch the last one, it might be worth watching (though it will only be available in a delayed broadcast on TVW.)
Meanwhile, the editorial board at The Oregonian writes that Washington voters should vote "no" on Initiative 1000, the death with dignity assisted suicide measure, saying that despite defending Oregon's right to a similar law nearly a decade ago, their "basic unease with physician-assisted suicide has not changed." Apparently, however, Washington residents are more supportive of the law than The Oregonian. According to the latest poll, 54 percent of Washington voters support the initiative, while only 26 percent oppose it.
Did you miss me? In case you missed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric yesterday, here's the video. In case you missed President Bush's address to the nation about Wall Street's collapse, here's the video. In case you missed John McCain "ditching" Late Night with David Letterman last night, here's the talk show host's heated response. ...
Better get back to those phones: Oregon Republican Rep. Gordon Smith trails Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley for the first time in seven weeks (but just barely), according to SurveyUSA. ...
Better get back to Margaritaville: The "Nickelsville" homeless encampment that made headlines earlier this week is set to be torn down by city officials today. ...
Better get better: Brad Shannon at The Olympian asks "what if state lawmakers were willing to raise taxes to help deal with a projected budget shortfall of $3.2 billion in 2009?" ...
Attention Washington voters: Secretary of State Sam Reed announced today that the state's Online Voters' Guide for the November 4 General Election is now available. ...
Attention K-Mart shoppers: Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a customer bill of rights today that says city services should be, "1. Easy and understandable, 2. Responsive, 3. Fair, and 4. Results oriented." You mean they aren't like that already? ...
Chump change: The Seattle Times reports both Rossi and Gregoire are receiving millions this year from people who didn't donate during the 2004 election cycle. ...
Agents of chump change: First lady-hopeful Cindy McCain was in King County yesterday with first hubby-hopeful Todd Palin, where they reportedly received nearly $1 million in donations from the $1,000-per person event. ...
Agents' commission: A Rossi-backing realtors' PAC has agreed to pay a $130,000 fine to the state's Public Disclosure Commission for "about $953,410 in reporting errors and omissions by the realty group's political committee from 2004 through 2007." ...
And finally, Jason Hagey at the News Tribune reports: The debate between Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland and challenger Peter Goldmark just began here at the Association of Washington Business annual policy summit.
Without Sutherland in the room.
Sutherland apparently had the wrong time marked in his calendar and is somewhere in the vicinity of Mount Vernon, the audience here was told.
I wonder if this is the same format that will be used in tomorrow's presidential debate.
