1. Moderate Democrat Deb Eddy (D-48, Kirkland), a rambunctious independent Eastside legislator who detests partisanship (as she heads into retirement she's co-chairing Republican state Sen. Steve Litzow's reelection campaign against Democratic challenger Maureen Judge), wouldn't comment on the rumor Fizz heard: that she's working behind the scenes to line up Democrats to support Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna.
Word is: McKenna told Eddy he wouldn't do anything as governor to undermine a woman's right to choose, if she helped score some Democratic endorsements for him.
2. The anti-gay marriage campaign will turn in their signatures this morning to put R-74 on the ballot: Voting to "Approve" will give public sign off on the gay marriage that passed the Legislature earlier this year and voting to "Oppose", as the anti-camp wants, will kill the legislation.
The anti-gay marriage campaign needs 120,000 valid signatures and are reportedly set to turn in 200,000 signatures, thanks, they say, to a last-minute push by paid signature gatherers.
3. Perhaps learning their lesson in Wisconsin where unions and Democrats were dramatically outspent ($45.6 million to $17.9 million in the most recent count) in their losing effort to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday, the big unions (and the Democratic Governor's Association) are the first to strike in Washington state's upcoming governor's race.
The Our Washington PAC, backed by the teachers' union and the Service Employees' International Union, has booked a $2.2 million anti-Rob McKenna TV buy for all of October in the runup to Election Day.
4. There are lots of campaign kickoffs and fundraiser underway this week — Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien, for example, is hosting the kickoff for his aide Sahar Fathi who's running for state rep. But one shindig certainly stands out: Former King County Executive and Deputy Secretary of HUD Ron Sims, one of the most popular and well-respected Democrats in the state, is hosting a fundraiser for Sylvester Cann, the young Democratic hopeful who is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46) in North Seattle.
Cann has outraised Pollet, $56,000 (with $44,000 cash on hand) to $30,000 (with about $27,000 cash on hand).
