Ailing Talmadge quits governor’s race

OLYMPIA — Democrat Phil Talmadge dropped out of the race for Washington governor on Thursday because he has a kidney tumor and may require surgery.

Talmadge said the tumor is not cancerous, but that he needs to focus on his health and not the rigors of a hotly contested primary.

"I’m putting my health and my family first," he said in an interview.

His competitors for the nomination, Attorney General Christine Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims, wished him a speedy recovery. Sims made an immediate play for Talmadge’s backers, saying the two of them were the only progressives in the race.

Talmadge said he’s comfortable with his decision.

"Hey, I’m not dying, I’m not dropping out of politics for good. I’ll be back."

Talmadge, 53, collapsed at a Bellevue Chinese restaurant May 21 night last week during a birthday dinner hosted by his family. He was taken to Overlake Hospital, where doctors diagnosed the tumor.

Talmadge said he got lightheaded and blacked out because the tumor had caused massive internal bleeding.

"I made quite the scene as medics came to get me and carry me away," he said with a chuckle. "My only regret is that I didn’t tell the people as I was carried out of the restaurant, ‘Don’t eat the potstickers!’ "

He said surgery may be necessary unless doctors can shrink the tumor. Surgery would entail at least a month of hospitalization and recuperation, severely crimping his ability to wage a tough primary battle, he said.

The race was "difficult at best" even without health problems, he acknowledged.

"This comes at the worst possible time, of course, for a campaign," campaign spokeswoman Catherine Kovell. said "It is causing him some trouble. It’s not a good time to be campaigning."

Talmadge also has been ailing politically. Polls showed him running a distant third in the race for the Democratic nomination, behind Gregoire and Sims.

Talmadge also trailed in fund-raising and in securing key endorsements.

Former state Sen. Dino Rossi is the favorite for the Republican nomination to replace Democrat Gary Locke, who is not seeking a third term.

Talmadge, an appeals attorney who represented West Seattle for 16 years in the state Senate and served six years on the Supreme Court, was the first candidate to jump into the race. That was two years ago, long before Locke decided to bail out after eight years. He now becomes the first high-profile Democrat to leave the fray.

After the powerful Washington Education Association endorsed Gregoire on April 17, Talmadge said he would have to reassess his candidacy. A few days later, he decided to soldier on.

But right after that, he discovered the cause of recent health problems. He was admitted to the hospital last week and stayed several days. He quietly suspended campaigning, canceling a weekend appearance in Pierce County, but Kovell said he didn’t decide until this Wednesday that he couldn’t continue the campaign.

"It has really been rough," she said. "After talking with his family and doctors, they decided, you don’t want to mess with your health."

Talmadge told his campaign staff his decision on Wednesday, and there was sadness and weeping all around, Kovell said.

Talmadge said he won’t endorse anyone for governor. He has been sharply critical of Gregoire, the front-runner, and differs with Sims on Sound Transit and a variety of issues.

Talmadge said Gregoire probably will receive the state Labor Council’s endorsement on May 8, to go with numerous other labor endorsements. Locke is expected to endorse her and state Democratic Chairman Paul Berendt is quietly in her camp, Talmadge said.

"She will tie up virtually the entirety of the Democratic support groups out there," Talmadge said, describing the frustration of trying to get traction against her.

Kovell said Talmadge is likely to stay active in politics, but hasn’t set his sights on another race yet.

"Nothing concrete, but he does plan to get back into politics," she said.

Gregoire’s campaign sent get-well wishes.

"As someone who has had some health issues herself, Chris really sends her best," said her campaign manager, Tim Zenk. Gregoire had a mastectomy last fall.

Sims, on a fund-raising trip to Washington, D.C., praised Talmadge’s contribution to the gubernatorial campaign, and said he expects to pick up his backers.

"He altered the nature of this campaign and you have to respect that and admire that," Sims said. "Phil and I had similar philosophies about what is missing in this state. We represented the more progressive wing of the party."