The Democrats’ official spin on Judge Bridges “N0 EVIDENCE” ruling is posted below. There’s one thing missing, though. While the Democrats hype Bridges’ denunciation of “proportional deduction” and highlight his statement that there was NO EVIDENCE of fraud, they don’t call attention the more important point that Bridges made: There was NO EVIDENCE that Rossi should have won the election. That’s what the Republicans had to prove. And they didn’t. Bridges was cold on that point, saying of the Republicans’ “evidence” to that end: “There’s none of that here.” To the contrary, Bridges pointed out (almost comically) that the hard evidence actually lowered Rossi’s total. Anyway, I think the Dems should lock into Bridges’ relentless “NO EVIDENCE” mantra and make it their own sound bite. The ultimate point being that the NO EVIDENCE Republicans are sore losers who wasted the public’s time with a near frivolous lawsuit.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Amanda Fuchs June 6, 2005 206-852-2046 GOVERNOR GREGOIRE'S VICTORY AFFIRMED: DINO ROSSI'S DESPERATE LEGAL ATTEMPT STRONGLY REBUFFED

SEATTLE -- In a strongly worded ruling from the bench, Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges today dismissed Dino Rossi's election contest lawsuit.

In his ruling, Judge John Bridges stated there was no evidence to support Dino Rossi's claims of fraud.

Furthermore, Bridges rejected Dino Rossi's theory of proportional deduction, concluding that it was not based on generally accepted standards in the scientific community.

However, the judge found that even if he had applied Rossi's theory to the actual evidence presented to the court, Gregoire's margin of victory would have grown.

"As we have said all along, Dino Rossi would have lost even if the judge had applied Rossi's own theory to the facts in the case,” said Paul Berendt, Chairman of the Washington State Democratic Committee.

Berendt added, "Meanwhile, Governor Gregoire has shown strong leadership for the people of this state. It's a shame Dino Rossi didn't graciously concede this election in December when all the votes were counted. Instead, he put the people of Washington through this expensive and unnecessary legal battle.”


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