Rick Larsen

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted against the Wall Street bailout bill this morning by a count of 228-205. The split was bipartisan, with 133 Republicans and 95 Democrats joining forces to block the $700 billion supplement to the financial industry.

The Washington delegation was likewise split, though slightly more partisan with five of the six Democrats voting in favor of the bill, save for Jay Inslee (D-Bainbridge Island) who joined all three Republicans for the "no" vote.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is going local, even here in Washington, with the scandal plaguing Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY). In light of the revelation that Rangel has admitted to owing thousands in back taxes, the NRCC is attempting to tie local Congressmen and candidates to Rangel, and has called on three of them –Darcy Burner (D-Carnation), Rep. Brian Baird (D-Vancouver) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington)—to return all contributions from Rangel’s PAC.

Still, House Democrats hit back at the Republicans, as reported by The Politico. They called the NRCC's attempts to make an issue of this hypocritical because of the sizeable number of Republicans who have refused to return PAC money from two Republican Congressmen under federal investigation, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Rep. Jerry Lews (R-Calif.).

DENVER - Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) sees the results of his "top two" primary race as good news for local Democrats in Northwest Washington. Larsen led the four candidate field with just under 55 percent of the vote, leading his general election opponent Rick Bart (R-Arlington) by seventeen points. Two other Democratic challengers, Doug Schaffer and Glen S. Johnson, received five and three percent of the vote, respectively.

"I feel good about the results of the primary," Larsen said, adding that it felt like vindication for the work he had done on behalf of veterans in his own race.

Besides that, he was also very confident about a lot of the legislative district races in the northwest corner of the state.

"I want to mention a few," he told PolitickerWA.com earlier this week. "Liz Loomis in the 44th is a targeted seat by both parties. Having a good Democratic turnout is important for her and she came out ahead in the primary."

DENVER - Here in Denver, the Democrats have been busy. Not just schmoozing, voting and listening to speeches, either. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) has been using some of the time to get ready to go back to congress.

"The main job is to nominate Barack Obama," Larsen said of the convention, "but I've been able to actually get some work done, too."

DENVER - Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) addressed the Washington delegation this morning still excited about last night's convention speeches by Michelle Obama and Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy.

"It was a thrilling moment," Larsen said of Kennedy's arrival on stage at the Pepsi Center.

He also looked forward to hearing what would come tonight, when the theme is "Renewing America's Promise." Larsen continually invoked that theme in his speech, and using it to tie the idea of America's future to his own party.

Things are far more local today following yesterday's star-studded and nationwide breakfast menu. Gone are Howard Dean and Janet Napolitano, replaced by some of Washington's most statured politicians.

Both of the state's U.S. Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, will speak along with 2nd Congressional District Rep. Rick Larsen .

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington), who has been highligthing his record of supporting Washington's veterans throughout his campaign for re-election in the 2nd Congressional District, predicted today that that very issue would help Gov. Chris Gregoire get re-elected in the fall.

"I think the issues of jobs, veterans and law enforcement will help Gov Gregroire," Larsen told PolitickerWA.com. "Washington state has created over 200,000 jobs since she has been governor."

Now that the text messages are in, and the world officially knows that Barack Obama has selected Delaware Sen. Joe Biden for his running mate, the question remains, what does it mean here in Washington?

Reactions from Evergreen State Democrats have been positive so far, even if they acknowledge that the number two spot on the ticket pales in comparison to the party's main draw, Barack Obama.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) issued a press release this morning championing the selection of Biden, saying it was yet another example of good judgment from Obama, a trait the Illinois senator has made into a key component of his campaign.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) is on the air in Northwest Washington's 2nd Congressional District with his second radio advertisement of the campaign. The new ad is a 60-second spot on high fuel prices and Larsen's votes in congress to reduce prices by stopping price gouging by oil companies.

Larsen's first ad focused on his work toward expanding veterans health care services in the 2nd District. His opponent, Arlington Republican Rick Bart, has yet to go on the air and after a promising start has run into money woes, even ending the second quarter in the red before raising enough in July to pay off hid debts.

See the full text of the radio ad after the jump.

Rep. Rick LarsenRep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington), the four-term incumbent from Northwest Washington's 2nd Congressional District, began airing his first campaign ads on the radio Monday on stations throughout the district. The spot highlights Larsen's work in expanding health care access for veterans, notably the opening of clinics in Mt. Vernon and Sedro Woolley.

Larsen is being challenged by former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart (R-Arlington), who has yet to advertise and whose campaign was in debt as of the latest filing period at the end of June.

Read the full transcript of the radio ad below the jump.