If you believe what Republican Dino Rossi is saying, he doesn’t have a campaign organization, an official spokesperson, or even a clue as to whether he’ll jump into the race to unseat Washington’s senior Democratic senator, Patty Murray. He’s just hard at work at his job at the commercial real-estate firm Coast Equity Partners, trying to figure out his next move. Just being a dad and a husband for now. Just flattered by the attention.
Whatever.
Rossi is acting like a man who wants in. He was in D.C. last month chatting with leaders of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who were evidently impressed by polling that showed Murray is vulnerable to a Rossi challenge. Then, on April 2, he very publicly fired off a letter asking Murray to call off the attack dogs from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee who—after smartly assuming that Rossi is doing what it looks like he’s doing—have been hitting him for his past “dirty deals” as a businessman (detailed at the Democrat-funded site www.dirtydealsdinoforsenate.com).
“Eighteen years ago, this is exactly the kind of politics you were against,” Rossi wrote in his letter to Murray, using language straight out of the challenger versus incumbent playbook. “Apparently, 18 years in the Senate has changed you completely.”
Rossi can continue to play this maybe-I’m-running-or-maybe-I’m-not game all the way up until the candidate filing deadline on June 11. But here’s the problem with strolling in late to topple a three-term incumbent like Murray: He would need a winning amount of money and a winning candidate profile, and he doesn’t have either.
Murray has nearly $6 million on hand right now for her reelection effort, while Rossi has to wait until he finally, officially “decides” to start trying to rake in serious dough. And while there may be a lot of conservative anger in the country as a whole at “D.C. politicians,” Rossi lacks a résumé that suggests he can step right into Murray’s shoes and take on the big issues of the day. For example, he’s mounted two failed runs for governor but still hasn’t taken a clear position on abortion, dismissing it as the business of federal officials (even though he now may be about to ask for a federal office).
Yet another problem: In actuality, time is probably not on Rossi’s side. Democrats are already seeing results from their strategy of tearing Rossi down before he’s even declared. On April 9, the same Rasmussen poll that had Rossi leading Murray earlier this year found that he’s now trailing Murray. The Democratic attacks, the polling firm wrote, “may help explain” that drop.
“Republicans need to know that this is not going to be an easy race against Patty Murray,” said Anne Martens, spokeswoman for Washington State Democrats. And Rossi must realize by now that the longer he takes to declare his intentions, the more he shoots himself—and his fellow Republicans, who can’t do serious fundraising until Rossi declares his intentions—in the foot. 
The failed gubernatorial campaigns have left the political brand irreparably damaged. It’s the New Coke of Washington politics now.
Heck, didn’t we pass a Three Strikes and You’re Out law?
Reminds me of something…not too long ago…somebody wouldn’t commit to running for office or not although he was possibly fundraising before he filed…OH, WAIT! That was Rossi in the 2008 governor’s race!
Do we really want a Governor, or Senator, who can’t make up his mind?
Any comment on the rumor that Rossi is going to drive for Ferrari in Formula One this year?
Eli, not sure I completely agree with your analysis. Whose to say he wasn’t in DC telling the RNC that he needs a guaranteed amount raised from them and significant in-kind commitment before he jumps in – helps address some of the issues around funds. As for the “resume” how much of a resume did George Nethercutt have when he took out a sitting Speaker in ’94 – a good year for the GOP. And finally, of course his numbers are going down that is to be expected with the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Cmte and the WA State Democrats taking shots at him without any real rebuttal. In the current climate I think Murray, the DSCC, and WA State Dems should be nervous.
It all depends on how much in kickbacks from the hedge funds he gets.
Because, once you’ve gone GOP, morality goes out the door, along with patriotism.
…rossi who … retread … no way
This guy is hilarious, he’s accused of shady business deals, and his response is “aww man this isn’t how we were supposed to play the game”. Pay no attention to the elephant behind the shower curtain. Nothing has changed about this guy, and I’m going to laugh so hard if the republicans pick him. I don’t feel like I’m dead set on Murray, but I can’t think of anyone voting for Rossi, they’re voting for the R next to his name.
(@8) you are such a tool. Your comments as well as Eli’s musings spew the standard DNC talking points on Rossi. It isn’t flying and reeks of desperation on the part of the Murray camp…
Only the adults should read on from here. The rest of you go inhale some medical marinara and watch Cartoon Central… Better yet take a shower, get a job or both…
Let’s put on our thinking caps for a moment:
If Rossi runs, it will do two things for the people that control him.
A) It will bring lots of money to their coffers to defeat Murray from GOP supports across this great nation.
B) It will stamp down all those GOP state leader wannabes upstarts that are a threat to the people who control Rossi.
What does Rossi and his camp have to lose if he runs? Hell, he might even win! Obviously the Murray camp already has their panties in a wad. (This is due to internal DNC showing that Rossi could win in a walk and Murray would lose to some of the upstarts)
Patsy Murray is vulnerable and everyone but the true DNC lemming deadheads know it.
She needs to go but the DNC can’t tell her to not run since she does whatever she is told by them. The Rossi camp however has a problem; time. It takes a good 18 months to mount a campaign this large. Rossi however does have name recognition and appeal. If one were high they could buy into the two time loser standard line, but this does not work completely due to the 2004 election magic ballot counts in King County during the Governors race. Rossi can rightly claim he was cheated and this only rallies the voters to his cause…
Also, in 2008 it was the DNC year. Obama was unbeatable and McCain was a turd. 2008 was the DNC year just like 1992. But this is not 2008 and Obama has negative numbers worse than Bush in 2008 currently. The DNC congressional numbers are even worse What the voters see is the reality that they were lied too by the DNC in 2008. The DNC with their backroom deals and just bad budget management have earned the wrath of the voters in 2010. The voters have seen that they have been lied to by the DNC and the lapdog media supporting them.
This is why Fox has soaring ratings at the expense of every other group and the DNC did not decisively win a major election in 2009. VA, NY and NJ were DNC black eyes…
Chris Dodd is out as well as a score of other DNC hack congress folk. The tide has turned and is heading for the shore. Will one of the upstarts or Rossi be able to ride the wave over Murray and her damaged goods?
It is going to take a boat load of out of state cash and serious organization for Rossi to win; Thanks to the DNC hate factor and Murray’s natural lameness, he has a shot…
Otherwise, one of the upstarts could pull it off as well.
WoW. Stay independant seattle, sign up with the republicans they screw you, sign up with the dems they screw you twice as hard. Vote for the best canidate not a party. Go Rossi! What the crap has Murray done in 20 years! practically nothing!
Given the anti-incumbent flavor American politics has this year, I’m surprised Patty doesn’t have a Democrat challenging her this year.
Patty may bring home a lot of bacon for her corporate friends, but she been gone so long she doesn’t known any real people any more.
WAIT – I’m wrong!
Patty doesn’t even know people who know real people.
As far as I’m concerned, doling out pork to suits and voting with the pack doesn’t make you much of a Democrat.
I may not be impressed with the choices Republicans have in this race, but at least they HAVE choices.
We’re the pro-choice party, right?
After 18 years of pork-stuffed tennis shoes and mumbling midget speeches, is it too much to ask for CHOICE?
Am I the only person who thinks she might be a zombie? Or a midget zombie, anyway.
So why doesn’t someone qualified, or at least ALIVE, run against her?
TELL ME I WAS NOT DEAD ON WITH MY COMMENT BACK IN APRIL 2010….
Rossi’s move was money based folks; It was not designed to beat pathetic Patty Murray