I think the problem is that you're mistaking the justification for a decision making process.

It's like in sports, when people talk about who was the greatest quarterback of all time; everyone already has an answer, the argument is simply in support of a position already taken. You almost never see anyone determine the criteria first and then see who gets picked.

I do not know, nor do I believe the Times would ever honestly tell you or even know themselves, why McKenna for Governor was a foregone conclusion, but I don't for a minute believe there was any doubt or that what they're describing happened prior to the selection.

it's a very provincial view to think that spending time in one place somewhere really gives you knowledge. a better vie that by spending time in different places gives you better knowledge. you see your place from another view. in other words, the times view is provincial as can be. do you really need to know the county council chair in asotin county to make better decisions on how to fund education in our state? maybe rubbing shoulders in dc with the folks from oregon or idaho that have an income tax would give you better knowledge abou what our state needs. or perhaps rubbing shoulders with the folks form other high income states with income tax like cali mass md ct nj ny all chock full of millionaires would educate you that income tax works fairly well. whereas limiting your knowledge to what the locals in benton county tell you about the effect of an income tax on economic growth maybe won't give you the best information. and anyway with a whole family here wife several kids including special needs kids plus year sin politics including in selah and representing the central washington district including wenatchee and yakima and such before moving to bainbridge inslee actually knows the state a damn site better than most pols, and better than mckenna. what farmers in central washington did rob mckenna ever meet with and get to learn their economic issues?

In other words: "McKenna knows things about us we'd prefer not get out, and if we endorse him, everything will stay nice and quiet."