2008

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) leads Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the latest Washington state presidential poll with 47 percent of the vote to McCain's 39, the Seattle P-I is reporting.

The poll, taken by the consulting firm Strategies 360, surveyed a relatively large sample of 1200 voters on June 26. In addition to the head-to-head, it also found favorability ratings of the two major party candidates. 54 percent of respondents reacted favorably to Obama compared to 37 percent negatively, while McCain had a 44 percent favorable and 46 percent unfavorable rating.

The margin of error for the poll was 2.75 percent.

John McCain has already visited Washington once this spring, and it undoubtedly will not be the last voters will see of the Arizona Senator and presumptive Republican presidential nominee. The Republican National Committee has sent a Victory Director to the Evergreen State to coordinate state and national campaigns, with Washington being one of just nine swing states nationwide to receive that designation.

Chris Gulugian-Taylor, a former legislative assistant to state Senator Cheryl Pflug who worked on the Bush-Cheney re-election effort here in 2004, told PolitickerWA.com today that he hoped to "capture the energy and momentum of candidates like John McCain, Dino Rossi and Rob McKenna" in bringing voters to the polls this November.

The filing period for elected office began this morning at 8:00AM, and will continue through end of business Friday at 5:00 PM at the Secretary of State's office. In addition to providing extra money to the state, the filing also acts to winnow out candidates who are not serious enough to spend any money to get their names on the ballot. Filing fees range from $412.80 for state legislative positions up to $1,652.00 for U.S. Representative.

Already, two candidates for U.S House, Democrat Cheryl Crist in the 3rd District and Republican Rick Bart in the 2nd, have already announced their filing. Hundreds more announcements are sure to come this week, as are accompanying campaign events in Olympia.

For more information on filing fees and where the candidates will be doing it, see the Secretary of State's website here.

Washington State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz, a superdelegate at the Democratic National Convention this summer, has just announced that he will support Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Gov. Chris GregoireA new Rasumussen Poll show Governor Chris Gregoire with a comfortable eleven point lead over her opponent, Republican Dino Rossi. The poll has Gregoire leading Rossi 52 percent to 41 percent. The last two Rasmussen snapshots, conducted in March and in February, showed statistical dead heats of 47-46, with Rossi leading in February and Gregoire on top in March.

The same pollster also shows Democrat Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain 51-40 in a presidential matchup here in the Evergreen State. This, too, is a marked increase for the Democrat from earlier polls.

Time's Mark Halperin, who runs their political website, The Page, unleashed his campaign season calendar highlighting what he predicts to be the most important dates in the presidential race. Worth noting for followers of Evergreen State politics is the final date on the calendar, November 4, 2008.  That's election day, on which he calls Washington one of 14 "states to watch."

Photo by Dean Rutz/The Seattle TimesFourteen is too large a number to get terribly excited about, given that it puts Washington only in the top 30% of battleground states. But still, included in the same group are notorious win-or-go-home states as Ohio, Florida, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

In other words, get those hiking boots out. John McCain might just be coming back to the woods. 

Rep. Jim McDermott has just endorsed Barack Obama for President. He is the last of Washington's elected superdelegates to pledge their support to a candidate for president and joins Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Brian Baird, Gov. Chris Gregoire, and Rep. Rick Larsen in supporting the Illinois Senator.

Here is what he had to say:

"I am proud to endorse Barack Obama today, because I believe he will bring us together to achieve the kind of change we need in this country moving forward. As Democrats, we are fortunate to have two very talented public servants running to be the nominee of our party, and I have great respect for Senator Clinton. But I believe now is the time to unite behind Barack Obama so we can be in the strongest place possible to win in November. Barack Obama has chosen to spend his career speaking out for those who need a voice and reaching across the aisle to bring change that matters in the lives of working families. I am confident that as president, Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq and bring our sons and daughters home, he will make universal health care a reality and he will restore our moral standing in the world. Barack Obama won the race in my home state by an overwhelming margin and I am thankful that so many new voters have become engaged because of the kind of campaign he has run, and I am happy to support him today."

The Seattle Times' David Postman is reporting that Rep. Rick Larsen, one of Washington's final remaining uncommitted elected superdelegates, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.

UPDATED: Larsen's office has just sent out a press release with his statements.

Larsen Pledges Super Delegate Vote to Obama

Everett, WA - Today U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), who will servenas a super delegate to the Democratic National Convention, endorsed BaracknObama for President of the United States of America. Larsen released thenfollowing statement:

"Today I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama for President. I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to turn our country's hopes for a better future into reality.

"This week, Senator Obama has proven that he is tough and resilient. He has shown that he can take a pounding, come back and continue to communicate with the public to deliver his message of hope and change.

"In my district, Senator Obama has strong grassroots support. He has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate.

"I believe that Senator Obama will be the best President for our country. I have been particularly impressed by Senator Obama's truth-telling on a proposed gas tax policy - a proposal which would make little or no difference for Americans paying too much at the pump.

"Our country faces great challenges. As President, I believe that Barack Obama can unite our country to overcome obstacles and deliver real change."

 

 

Coming just days after the Indiana Democratic Senator and prominent Hillary Clinton supporter Evan Bayh advised his Hoosier State colleagues not to endorse any candidates despite his own actions, Washington state Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz is tacking a similar maneuver.

Yesterday the Times' David Postman mentioned a quote from Pelz in the NY Daily News where Pelz said, "It's time for us to end this. The candidates are tearing each other apart, and it's not good for the party. I think we need to have a candidate."