The ink pad for Snohomish County’s rubber stamp of Democratic candidates in major races is drying up.
In 2004, Snohomish County voters did back two big-name Democrats, John Kerry for president and Patty Murray for Senate.
But they also voted for three Republicans for statewide office: Dino Rossi for governor, Rob McKenna for attorney general and Sam Reed for secretary of state.
That performance illustrates that the county’s political demography is evolving as its population is multiplying. A growing batch of voters is averse to ideology. They are philosophically pragmatic, willing to cast their lot with people, not parties.
They will play a decisive role in this year’s race for U.S. Senate.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and her expected Republican opponent, Mike McGavick, know this and are starting to accelerate their efforts to reach those voters.
That means Snohomish County voters will receive a lot more attention.
The candidates are showing up more often in the county: Cantwell twice last week and McGavick twice this week. They’re raising campaign cash, assuring partisans that all’s well and trying to boost their profile among those pivotal independent-minded voters.
Snohomish County provided Cantwell with her margin of victory over Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000. She won the county by 3,800 votes and the election by 2,200 votes.
She wants to do better this year. It’s her home county, and she’s hoping to capitalize on her spirited assistance to Snohomish County PUD in its fight against Enron. Recent polls in the state and the county give her a double-digit lead. But if she loses the county, she might not lose the seat. See the Gregoire experience of 2004.
Cantwell faces challenges in the county, too. Voters haven’t seen her name on a ballot in six years and independent ones may be unimpressed by her title of incumbent. And there won’t be as many voters because it is not a presidential election.
McGavick must win Snohomish County to have a chance at being senator.
Coming close won’t do. He’s expected to lose in King County and make up the deficit in large counties: Snohomish, Pierce, Clark and Spokane.
Republicans say winning is possible. See the Rossi playbook of 2004.
But McGavick is a different man in a different race in a different year. He’s seeking a job in a government guided by a member of his party who is unpopular with most voters, President Bush. Opposition by association is a real issue McGavick must counter.
A lower turnout means fewer independents, the very folks who carried Rossi to victory. And where two years ago they rushed to the polls on Election Day, this year they’ll be home on the couch as everyone in Snohomish County will vote by mail. That new experience may turn some off.
McGavick can finance and run a near-perfect campaign to reach them. Cantwell can, too.
Snohomish County voters are going to get a lot of attention.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield’s column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be heard at 7 a.m. Monday on “The Morning Show” on KSER (90.7 FM). He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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