Political Notebook

Murray faces pivotal Wash. Senate race

By Curt Woodward

Associated Press / August 19, 2010

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OLYMPIA, Wash. — Senator Patty Murray and her Republican challenger dived right into their fall matchup after winning the primary in a high-stakes election that could determine the balance of power in the nation’s capital.

Democrat Murray said a vote for Republican Dino Rossi is a vote for the failed policies of President George W. Bush. Rossi declared that he would put Washington, D.C., on “a pork-free diet’’ and end what he called a reckless pursuit of federal money by Murray in her 18 years in the Senate.

Murray and Rossi easily won Washington’s primary Tuesday on a day on which President Obama came to the state to campaign for the Democrat. Obama’s presence shows how high the stakes are. The GOP will probably need to oust Murray to regain control of the Senate.

Wyoming held a tight GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday. Former US attorney Matt Mead claimed the Republican primary, making him the favorite in November to win a governor’s seat held by a Democrat.

With about 59 percent of the expected vote counted, Murray had 46 percent, compared with Rossi’s 34 percent. GOP hopeful Clint Didier, a former Super Bowl winner for the Washington Redskins who has the backing of the Tea Party movement and Sarah Palin, was running a distant third with 12 percent.

The results signal how close the race might be for Murray. The fact a three-term senator is unable to pull a majority of the vote shows her vulnerability, but she could gain in November when the Democratic base is more motivated.

GOP candidate for governor in Colo. rejects drop-out bid

DENVER — The Republican gubernatorial candidate in Colorado rejected an offer yesterday from former GOP congressman Tom Tancredo for both men to get out of the race and let the party pick a new candidate.

Dick Wadhams, the state Republican chairman, said he delivered the offer to nominee Dan Maes after Tancredo offered it as a compromise to give Republicans a chance to win back the governor’s office in November. Tancredo bolted from the party last month to run as an American Constitution Party candidate.

Tancredo “contacted me late Monday to indicate he would withdraw from the race for governor if Dan Maes did so as well,’’ Wadhams said. “I asked Tom for the opportunity to present this offer to Dan Maes. . . . I felt it was my responsibility as state chairman to inform Dan of this offer since it held open the possibility of eliminating the current three-way race that gives the Democratic candidate a huge advantage.’’

Maes beat challenger Scott McInnis in the GOP primary Aug. 10 after both men rejected a demand from Tancredo they get out of the race and let the party pick a new candidate if polls showed neither man could beat the Democratic candidate, Mayor John Hickenlooper of Denver.

— Associated Press

2 R.I. governor hopefuls skip Cianci radio debate

WARWICK, R.I. — Lincoln Chafee says he will skip any Rhode Island governor’s race debate that airs on Buddy Cianci’s radio show.

Chafee says he supports the decision of Mayor David Cicilline of Providence to skip a congressional debate on WPRO-AM, scheduled for last night. Cianci, the former longtime mayor of Providence, was sent to prison for corruption in 2002.

Chafee says that although Cianci has served his time, the state is harmed by the perception of corruption.

— Associated Press