|
« A Changed Tikrit |
Main
| Charter Schools Bill Heads to State Senate »
Rossi on a Roll
March 10, 2004
The race for Washington Governor has barely started, but it's getting more interesting anyway. If the latest Elway Poll is any indication, the personable suburban conservative is gaining steam against the liberal, long-time public servant. Trumpets GOP candidate Dino Rossi's Web site: A new poll released by Elway Research, Inc. shows significant upward momentum for Republican candidate Dino Rossi. In a four-way head-to-head matchup, 26% of respondents chose (current WA Atty. Gen.) Christine Gregoire (D) for Governor, compared to 25% for Rossi (R), 9% for Ron Sims (D) and 3% for Phil Talmadge (D). (Well, Sims DID gain 4 points). This poll was conducted Feb. 18-21, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. There are some caveats. In November, Rossi had not officially announced his candidacy. And there are doubtless plenty of undecideds. Still, things are a lot tighter than in the earlier Elway poll, or an Emily's List poll also done late last year. There are reasons Rossi has a serious chance, as we've discussed here before. At 3 percent, even conceding polls are just a snapshot in time, you've got to wonder why Talmadge is even sticking it out. Principle, I guess. King County Executive Sims, a smart and very decent guy, is similarly doomed. Gregoire is likewise bright, decent, and well-respected by many. But something about her candidacy rubs me the wrong way: my instincts say "career politician waiting in the wings, looking to all the usual Democratic constituencies: old-line feminists, labor, etc." Ick! Rossi's stands on some issues are a bit far to the right for me, probably because I'm a SEATTLE moderate-conservative (pro-transit, anti-sprawl, pro-choice). But he doesn't act like he's just going through the motions. So much of this stuff is gut reaction; little to do with white papers. And that's fine. Posted by Matt Rosenberg at March 10, 2004 11:05 AM Trackback Pings TrackBack URL for this entry: Comments:
Matt What the heck is anti-sprawl? I can understand the policy consequences of pro-transit and pro-choice, but I scratch my head over what anti-sprawl means. Posted by: Gary B at March 10, 2004 03:29 PMLong story short, Gary, it means (in part) that I drove through the not-too-long-ago-incorporated suburb of Sammamish and was revolted. At sub-divisions popping up everywhere with no seeming regard to the surroundings. And I felt the same looking at the traffic in Issaquah, Redmond, South King County, North King County, Snohomish County. I say all this having come from a very different, very GOP-ish position, against our state's "growth management" law. So there it is -- flog me if you will, but I feel pretty strongly about this. I've even shopped at Wal-Mart with no moral qualms whatsoever, tho I was greatly dismayed at the lack of quality pots and pans at one of their Northern CA outposts last summer. Posted by: Matt Rosenberg at March 10, 2004 05:22 PMI'll pass on the flogging. I'm not sure we would have significant differences of opinion regarding those same areas. I'm more curious about what anti-sprawl policies would entail? Posted by: Gary B at March 11, 2004 09:20 AMI live in Sammamish. Not in a development. However, what is wrong with all the developments going up? Developments bring homes, places to shop/eat and gather, libraries, schools, churches, etc. This means jobs! Developments are signs of prosperity. Nothing wrong with that. Posted by: Naarski at March 13, 2004 04:13 PMPost a comment
|
|
| Site design by Mystic Sludge Design© | |