Thread: Murray, Rossi Win Washington Primaries

Murray, Rossi Win Washington Primaries

Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Republican challenger Dino Rossi formalized their November matchup Tuesday, emerging as expected from Washington state's "top two" primary by comfortable margins.

Associated Press

Dino Rossi talked to supporters during an evening gathering on Tuesday.

With about 45% of the expected vote counted in unofficial results, Ms. Murray claimed first place with about 47% of the vote. Mr. Rossi took the second spot with about 34%.

Washington's unusual primary lists all candidates on a single ballot and winnows the field to two for the general election, regardless of the candidates' party. Conservative Republican Clint Didier, a former NFL tight end who attracted support from tea party activists, was in third place with about 10% of the vote.


Ms. Murray enjoyed a primary-day visit from President Obama, part of the president's national tour to help Democratic candidates.

In his first visit to the state as president, Mr. Obama headlined two fundraising events for Ms. Murray and the state Democratic Party. The expected haul was estimated at about $1.3 million.

At a Seattle hotel, Mr. Obama told a packed fundraising luncheon that "the country needs Patty."

"I can tell you we would not have been able to get some of the critical things we got done this year had it not been for her leadership. So make sure you send her back to Washington, please," Mr. Obama said.

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Associated Press

President Obama stood with Sen. Patty Murray at a fundraiser in Seattle on Tuesday.
Without mentioning Mr. Rossi by name, Mr. Obama also criticized the Republican contender for advocating repeal of the Democrats' new tighter regulations on the financial industry.

Arguing those steps were clearly needed after the mammoth financial collapse, Mr. Obama said Mr. Rossi must have been "counting on amnesia" to find support for repealing the measure.

Mr. Rossi's campaign replied that Mr. Obama should have focused on promoting Ms. Murray.

"If someone as eloquent as President Obama can't defend her 18-year record of spending, taxing, and growing government, who can? It's clear Washington needs Dino Rossi in the Senate to get the economy moving and keep spending under control," spokeswoman Jennifer Morris said.

Nearly all of Washington's 3.6 million voters use absentee ballots, with only one county still offering traditional polling places. Ballots were mailed statewide in late July and must be postmarked or dropped off by Tuesday.

Mr. Rossi was heavily recruited by national Republican officials to challenge Ms. Murray, who has regularly polled below 50% in this campaign. Mr. Rossi finally announced his campaign in late May, just days before the deadline for registering as a candidate.

Since then, he has campaigned as a critic of the Democratic majority's spending and the national debt. Mr. Rossi is seeking to turn one of Ms. Murray's chief strengths, the ability to deliver federal money, into a liability.

Ms. Murray has not run from her record of bringing federal spending to the state, pointing out jobs that were bankrolled by such efforts and warning that a freshman senator who decries earmarks would simply surrender that money to other states.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 38964.html

Conservative Republican Clint Didier, a former NFL tight end who attracted support from tea party activists, was in third place with about 10% of the vote.

Nearly all of Washington's 3.6 million voters use absentee ballots, with only one county still offering traditional polling places. Ballots were mailed statewide in late July and must be postmarked or dropped off by Tuesday.

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