I don't want a republican in there, but these two have been disappointing 'leaders'.

Certainly, Rossi is doing a good job of capitalizing on the trendy messages and appeal of "change", youth, and knowledgeable outsider status. But he is such a disaster waiting to happen, talking a good charismatic and moderate game while disguising his thoroughly conservative ideals and goals.

As much as I'd love a refreshing change in the top national "bully pulpit", it seems to me (if one had to choose the lesser of two evils) that a Rossi governorship would make the lives of many Washingtonians far more miserable than a McCain presidency, given the way that state government now controls many (if not most) of the non-military governmental policy and funding decisions. A good Governor can buffer many of the bad federal decisions (as Gregoire has done for the last four years of the Bush fiasco), and a bad Governor can micro-manage the budget, policy, and administrative decisions of state agencies so that good federal policy is de facto substantially ignored or undermined.

I put the word in quotes, because these are registered voters who only voted in one or two of the last six primary or general elections.

While I spoke to a couple of Obama/Rossi supporters, I was surprised to speak to quite a few Undecided/Gregoire supporters.

all of the public polls show Rossi bleeds as many Republicans as Gregoire bleeds Democrats.

the latest Survey USA poll from July has her getting 11% of Republicans and him getting 13% of Democrats.

she's got work to do, but she's not the only one. in fact, she can afford to bleed some Democrats because of their sheer number of people now IDing as Dems. can Rossi really afford bleeding Republicans?

Spokane still has those giant "Don't Let Seattle Steal This Election!" Rossi billboards, though.

With a democratic state house & senate, I honestly think our state would function better with a republican as governor.

I think @14 your post was debunked.

I don't know why people think Gregoire is going to have an easy time of it this election. It's going to be clooooose.

Seriously, there's your margin of voters.

Which is why she headlined with Vampire Weekend.

Don't mess with Seattle - that's the take home message, and Rossi's losing that one.

Next thing ya know, they'll be marching for Obama in Gay Pride Parades...

The secret is to find a republican who is socially liberal but a fiscal hard ass. I keep thinking of Arnold for some reason.

Chopp isn't constructive or productive with his Democratic majorities.

Gregoire has been *fine* as a governor, but she's been weirdly anti-Seattle through her whole first term consider Seattle basically elects her. She has also avoided taking strong stances on gay rights and other lib causes in an apparent attempt to appease independents and line-crossing Republicans. Annoys me.

McDermott is useless as a *representative* for this district; he could accomplish much more for his pet causes by getting out there in nonprofit land a la Bill Gates while letting fresh thinkers leverage the safe Democratic seat he now ponderously fills in a productive way.

It will all come down to one thing - how Seattle votes.

And anyone with an ounce of sense knows that.