what about "Rossi is a tool"?

"Threepeat!"

I got a bad feeling about this one. I think Rossi has a chance.

It's just too hard to imagine Rossi winning that seat...even in these "anti-incumbent" times. Anti-incumbent certainly doesn't mean party-switching...does it?

Sounds like she is a fighter. And Rossi is a tool. People in Washington aren't stupid, this isn't Arizona and it isn't Kentucky. We know why it's good idea to have a smart, tested, fighter in DC. She's going to win again.

The "fighter" message again? That seems to be a favorite among Dems eager to prove that they're not soft pushovers (I think Kerry tried using this in 2004). Rather than fighter, why not something a little less direct, like "Voice" ("I've provided a strong voice for the people of Washington over the last 18 years, and I'll continue to do so if you elect me," etc.)

Not to mention, if Murray loses, that makes Maria Cantwell our senior Senator. She's really started to come into her own during this term, but I'm not sure it would be in our state's best interests to have two relative neophytes serving at the same time. OTOH, Murray was only 1 1/2 terms in when Cantwell ousted Gorton.

Here's the debate:

Rossi: I want a bridge and a tunnel.

Murray: I want a bridge and tunnel. I want a 12 lane bridge and a 10 lane tunnel.

Rossi: I want a 14 lane bridge and a 12 lane tunnel.

Murray: You are out of touch.

Rossi: No you are.

End of debate.

If you live in the bubble of Seattle or for that matter the Puget Sound I can see how you can't see Rossi winning but once you get out of the bubble.....

I can see Rossi winning this fall; not by much, one or two points at the most, but I can see him winning.

#11 Rossi could win but he'd have to drink a lot more tea.

Rolling out the "Home Team" schtick just doesn't work for Repubs.

Rossi won't win. Murray is a good senator. She is proactive on veterans issues and jobs. We need to turn out in sufficient numbers. We don't need to move backward. Stop the party of NO!

@10: I love your predictions, you always seem to predict the opposite of what eventually happens. Murray by 3.

The "bubble" of Seattle & the Greater Puget Sound happens to be where the votes are located. A Republican has to win Seattle to win, homey. It's a bit limp to constantly berate the voters who reside west of the Cascades as if they were some lost group of misinformed, befuddled middle-schoolers.

How about: "Look at my record."?

Murray needs to clearly itemize what she's done for WA, not just vague statements like "Defends veterans", "Supports small business" and "loves kittens". All candidates say this crap. I want to hear, "I secured $1 billion for the Viaduct replacement", "I kept the 62nd AMXS, and the 5000 jobs it supports, at McChord", or "I got SeaTac new air traffic control equipment". Specifics will persuade the intelligent, but undecided voter.

More importantly, can I vote for that wacky Dr. from Wenatchee in the primary? You know, the guy that has a plan for peace in the Middle East. I love that guy.

@10, in re to 14, Sorry to imply that you are guilty of west side bashing.....it just gets done alot in discussions of Washington state politics.

Rossi has to knock out ex-gridiron candidate, Palin-backed Clint Didier, no? It's not a slamdunk that he gets the nod...

@18, Agreed...well, not really about Didier, but about Rossi having a primary to win first. Ayers is already running commercials. They're folksy, FWIW. And, if the teabaggers hold true here as they have elsewhere it means that everyone has to tack hard to the Right and even then they may still reject Rossi as the "establishment" pick like those sage Kentuckians did. At least, I hope.

All she has to do is point at Rossi and laugh.

Yeah, it's that simple.

I'm sitting out this one...I can't forgive her vote against Harkin's drug reimportation bill.

Rossi had a chance when no one really knew what he stood for. Then he went through a bunch of debates with Gregoire and got floored. He has a hard time saying things, he usually just talks in republican talking points. Family values, hating gays, pro-corporate BS. He's stale, and honestly I don't see many people beyond the "I'm voting R because it's not D" crowd "excited" for him. Independents are looking for independents, and Rossi has driven them away by being a total loser in his last campaigns. Add to that, the fact that he's spent his entire time in the private sector, scheming as much as possible to make as much money as possible, out of touch. If he spends all his time pandering to the rightest right wing of the republican party, how can he put a winning team together? R's just want to throw the D's out of office, and that's not a winning message. Murray didn't vote for the bailout did she? That's why all the democrat leaning votes will eventually hold their noses and vote for her, I think some younger people might not vote, but with that oil spill my generation is out for blood. One thing I know for sure? Rossi is not a friend of mother earth. Drill baby drill yee haw. He's one of those, cut the taxes and everything else will just work out kind of ignorant utopian dreamers. Oh, and he's probably going to have to run right if he wants to win his parties nomination. If Rossi goes anymore right, or even appears as such, he's not going to make a dent in King County beyond his best friends who own Bellevue.