OLYMPIA – Sen. Maria Cantwell, one of the Democrats’ more vulnerable incumbents, is launching her re-election bid this week with a 26-stop “Putting Us First” tour of Washington state, which is to include an appearance in Everett.
Part of her challenge is dealing with fellow Democrats unhappy with her support of the Iraq war. Contrasting her stance with what she called the Republicans’ “stay-the-course” position, Cantwell said Monday that she’s eager to see a transition plan for shifting responsibility to the Iraqis.
“I certainly want to change the course and get our troops home,” she said from Eastern Washington. “The United States has done its duty in helping a new government get formed and now it is time for that new government to take over.
“Washington people want to see a plan. They don’t want to see (troops) there indefinitely.”
Cantwell conceded that her party remains divided over the issue. “Do I think there will be some diversity in the party? Of course.”
Cantwell kicked off her campaign over the weekend, at the Democratic picnic in her home county, Snohomish, then jetted off to Spokane for that county party’s annual salmon bake.
On Monday, she did a Social Security event at a senior center in Spokane and traveled to a community clinic in Moses Lake to talk about rural health concerns. Her schedule today includes Richland and Yakima.
Cantwell was scheduled to be in Everett on Wednesday. Events also are being planned this week in Tacoma, Seattle, Kitsap County, Olympia, Woodland and Vancouver, and another trip to Seattle was set for early next week.
Cantwell’s announcement tour is highlighting issues that she hopes will give her the edge over her hard-charging Republican challenger, such as Social Security, health care, pensions, Medicare and energy independence.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a potential Republican presidential candidate, visited Washington on Monday in a fundraising effort for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McGavick.
Frist headlined a $100-a-person luncheon in Spokane, hosted by Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., and a group of local doctors. McGavick and Frist later visited a clinic that serves uninsured low-income residents.
Frist then flew to Seattle for a $500-a-head event at the Rainier Club.
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