Redstate

By bellpe Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

While attention may have diverted elsewhere in the the bid for control of Congress, the race for Washington's Senate seat is still RED HOT in this state: the region's largest paper, The Seattle Times, has endorsed Mike McGavick. Another key endorsement for McGavick came this week from the Yakima Herald.

Both campaign's political ads are also making news. As a clear indication of her own insecurity in the polls, the incumbent Maria Cantwell has increased her negative attacks, while McGavick has remained positive, but clearly on the offensive.

Cantwell's campaign has delayed in putting an ad online which uses scare tactics to demagogue voters on the Social Security issue, even though her website promises, "the latest television ads from the campaign as soon as they are live."

Her campaign did, however, upload their recent personal attack on McGavick and his leadership at Safeco.

In a statement picked up by local newspapers, McGavick didn't parse words:

"Apparently, lying to voters about my position for Social Security reform was not enough. Sen. Cantwell now seeks to destroy a record of achievement and a record of saving thousands of jobs at Safeco..."

"Until just recently, the senator has been content to let others do her dirty work. That she is now willing to personally attack me shows exactly how concerned she is."

McGavick was also clearly prepared for the attacks, and had a series of ads in the pipe. Watch those ads and read my accompanying commentary here.

Recent news analysis indicates that the race will not likely be the recipient of ad money from either side's national committees. Good. In my own analysis, McGavick has much more to gain by keeping this race local and focused on the differences between the candidates.

A case in point is the NRSC putting out this somewhat annoying web ad that describes Cantwell's long-standing and questionable relationship with a lobbyist. It doesn't matter if the allegations are true, that type of campaigning has no place in this race, and frankly, is something we could do without in this cycle.

For any Red State readers who thought this race was a bust and decided to tune out, welcome back! If past elections in Washington State are any indication, this race could come down to a few thousand votes. Your attention and contributions are, now more than ever before, vital to this race.