Republicans will bring their checkbooks and swollen expectations to a SeaTac hotel this week for the “Run Dino Run” celebration that might on a very off chance produce a candidate for governor in 2008.
For their sake, Dino Rossi should stride on stage, soak up their cheers, audition a few jokes, hurl a light dose of partisan invective then walk off with the spotlight still burning.
For his sake, Dino Rossi shouldn’t announce.
It is unnecessary. There’s no question people want him to run against Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire.
His family and friends are lined up behind him because they believe he won the last time the same two pols faced off in 2004.
Democrats want him to run because they are itching to beat him down by more than the 133 votes that decided that election.
Even many in the media — OK, me — can’t deny Gregoire-Rossi II would be a compelling campaign to cover, a marquee matchup capable of generating more interest in this state than the presidential campaign.
Yet declaring now gains Rossi nothing. He’s already the party’s incumbent candidate, will be unchallenged in next year’s primary and can focus entirely on the general election.
Waiting gains the party time to organize and gives him time to better hone a message.
This isn’t 2004 anymore.
Then, Republicans controlled the federal government and Rossi ran as the party’s emissary of change to break Democrats’ hold in Olympia.
His charisma and quality television commercials attracted voters from all corners of the state and all shades of the political spectrum.
Today, Republicans are out of power in Congress and Rossi is viewed as the savior of a party that’s lost not only seats but sometimes its relevancy in the Legislature.
In Snohomish County, the GOP has lost its way too. Its majority on the County Council is gone and the organization is rebuilding.
That’s a concern for Rossi. In 2004, he won Snohomish County, outpolling Gregoire by 6,000 votes. He needs to duplicate that performance to have any chance of success next year.
Right now, as he tours the state — he’ll be in Lake Stevens on Monday — and offers a pro-business, anti-big government message, voters in Snohomish and many other counties may not be very interested because of the buoyant economy that’s given them jobs and housing.
If Rossi waits a few weeks, the picture may change.
November will bring another forecast of expected revenues for the state. In December, Gregoire will propose a budget for 2008.
A drop in revenues and a hike in spending would be mouth-watering. If the dough keeps rolling in and she socks it in reserve, it could starve him on a crucial theme and he’ll need the time to find an adequate substitute.
Or it might leave Rossi less hungry to run at all.
Perish the thought.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield’s column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be heard at 8 a.m. Monday on “The Morning Show” on KSER (90.7 FM). He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfieldheraldnet.com.
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