U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., isn’t letting Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Republican challenger John Koster go unnoticed.
He criticized the former Alaska governor for getting involved in the congressional race and said her endorsement will give voters more insight into Koster’s conservative political leanings.
“While this may be the clearest evidence yet of John Koster’s true priorities, the last thing Northwest Washington needs right now are politicians from out of state using this race to further their national ambitions,” Larsen said in a public statement issued Tuesday.
Koster received Palin’s endorsement Saturday and was surprised Larsen even reacted.
“Obviously they’re concerned, otherwise why would they respond?” Koster said Wednesday.
He hopes the endorsement from the 2008 vice presidential nominee will attract contributors and attention to his campaign to unseat the five-term incumbent. Federal campaign records show Larsen had raised $736,671 as of March 31 while Koster had collected $168,717.
“I’m grateful for her support. It’s a big deal. It raises our stature on the national scene,” Koster said.
Koster is one of four people running against Larsen in the 2nd Congressional District that stretches from Everett north to the Canadian border. The others, who live in Bellingham, are Republican John Carmack and Democrats Larry Kalb and Diana McGinness.
Larsen contends Palin’s moves is part of her broader effort to target Democratic office-holders, some of whom she’s portrayed in literature with cross-hairs superimposed on their bodies. Palin also has endorsed Clint Didier, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
“(Palin) can target me and put Northwest Washington in her crosshairs, but it won’t stop me from fighting for what I believe is right,” Larsen said.
It appears Larsen is calculating the Palin endorsement will be a turn-off to more voters than a turn-on.
But Koster, an Arlington resident and Snohomish County councilman, disagreed.
“He might be thinking that,” he said. “I’ll stand beside Sarah Palin while he stands beside (President) Barack Obama, (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid and we’ll see what happens.”
The primary is Aug. 17 and the two candidates with the most votes will face-off in the general election in November.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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