With the Red Sox poised to break the Curse of the Bambino if they capture the World Series, could this be the year Republican Dino Rossi breaks the Spell of the Democrats by winning the race for governor?
Consider the similarities.
This time last year, Boston courted pitcher Curt Schilling and, with his wife’s permission, he signed on. Also late last year, the Republican Party wooed Dino Rossi and, with his wife’s nod, he joined up.
Their arrivals immediately raised the expectations of the partisans.
Schilling hooked up with a talent-laden team. He became the straw needed to break the Yankees’ back.
Rossi faced a taller order. His club consisted of the meek Sam Reed, the mower Doug Sutherland, retiring bench coach Jennifer Dunn and team mascot Chris Vance. Even with President Bush as ace and cleanup hitter, Rossi knew he’d need to do some heavy lifting to topple the Democrats.
He had the tools. He enjoyed an MVP year in 2003, mixing his pitches en route to a share of the legislative trophy that went with the no-new-taxes budget.
He began the 2004 election fully expecting his opponent to be Democrat Christine Gregoire, a trusted veteran on a crafty club steeped in skilled position players and coaches.
Upsetting her would require a near perfect game. He started well, firing his message hard and straight. He appeared unhittable.
Democrats must be dethroned after two decades in charge, he said. Time for a change and a new direction in state government, he said. Fans cheered, especially when an unpopular primary system emerged from under the pen of a Democratic governor.
Washington is unfriendly to business, he preached. Unemployment is among the highest in the nation. Regulations are strangling a state economy still infected with the recession virus. More ovations.
Now that the edge is off Rossi’s fastball, there’s less gloom and no foreseeable doom.
In September, unemployment dropped near the national average. Another 20,000 jobs were created. Homes are popping off the market at record prices. Boeing is selling planes. Martha Stewart is enjoying jail.
Those headlines plus the president’s departure from the home team leaves Rossi in a jam. He’s facing thousands of new voters who don’t know him, don’t share his angst about the economy and need a reason to dump the party in power in this state.
He has not given them one. Nor has he made clear what Washington will look like in four years if he’s in charge.
Forced off message, he has stepped up his attacks, and that’s not a becoming uniform for him.
He also ran a commercial this week featuring a boarded-up building whose closure he blamed on Democrats. Apparently, the building doesn’t exist in this state.
Though Rossi may be down the political equivalent of 0-3, he’s not out. History may still be made. The Red Sox came back.
Then there’s Mount St. Helens. As Rossi aptly noted the day the volcano first blew off some steam, the last time it erupted, a Republican was elected governor.
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 1-360 352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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