Dave Reichert

Yet another national congressional ranking site has acknowledged the competitive nature of Washington's 8th District race between Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) and challenger Darcy Burner (D-Carnation). This time it is the left-leaning Swing State Project, who just yesterday moved the race from its "Lean R" category to a "Tossup", one of twelve in the country in that category.

Read their analysis below, which cites Burner's fundraising advantage and Obama's relative strength in Washington.

After early reports showed a gaping hole in the 8th Congressional District television markets, new numbers show that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has reserved nearly a million dollars on Seattle television stations for this year's election.

According to the Washington Post, the DCCC will spend $949,000 on ads will support Darcy Burner (D-Carnation) in her second bid to unseat Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn). Given the size of the market, that means voters are likely to see the ads just over twice a week when they air.

The Washington Education Association, normally a firm backer of Democratic politicians, has broken with its normal trajectory and endorsed Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) in his re-election race against Carnation Democrat Darcy Burner, according to the TNT.

"Washington educators appreciate Rep. Reichert's support for public schools, students and education employees. He understands the need to invest in quality public education," WEA President Mary Lindquist said in a press release.

Congressional candidate Darcy Burner (D-Carnation) posted second quarter campaign donations totaling $579,023.82 without considering a surge of goodwill submissions after the loss of her home to fire.

Burner's campaign reported $1,248,377.34 cash on hand to the Federal Elections Commission following the June 30th reporting deadline for second quarter donations.

Second quarter proceeds for the Republican incumbent in the 8th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn),
had yet to be published on the FEC website as of
Wednesday afternoon. Coming into the second quarter, which started April 1, Reichert reported a cash on hand war chest of $698,035.

Reichert defeated Burner in a close election for the 8th District seatin 2006.

Summer fundraisers with high-profile national figures are commonplace, especially for incumbents with a challenger hot on their heels, like U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert with Newt Gingrich on Father's Day this or President Bush last year.

But when Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, comes to town this Thursday to raise money for Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, things will be different.

For starters, Mrs. Obama isn't running for, nor has she ever held any office. But more importantly, this fundraiser has seating for 1600.

Washington's Congressional delegation spoke out in favor of today's decision by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' decision to re-open the bidding process for the Air Force KC-767 tankers. Airbus had won the initial contract, which would have cost the state's economy a significant amount of money, but the process was discovered to be flawed by the Government Accountability Office.

Representatives Brian Baird (D-03), Doc Hastings (D-04) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (D-05) have yet to speak on the matter. Links to and excerpts from the rest of the state's elected officials statements are below.

Losing a home to fire takes a toll on nearly every aspect of one's life. When a high profile campaign for the U.S. House is part of that life, the price gets distributed on to thousands more people, whether they are active campaign volunteers, or merely constituents who passively miss out on normal campaigning. Such was the case last week when 8th District Democrat Darcy Burner lost her home to fire.

Fortunately for Burner many of her constituents, along with well-wishers across the country, have banded together to help ease the campaign burdens she will undoubtedly face in the coming weeks as she and her family move forward with their post-fire lives. The campaigns financial burdens, at least.

Spurred on by calls from bloggers across the country, Burner has raised over $110,000 from more than 2,000 contributors on the fundraising site ActBlue since last Tuesday's fire.

Darcy Burner, Democratic candidate for U.S House in the 8th Congressional District, made it official Wednesday that she would stay in the race despite the fire that destroyed her King County home Tuesday morning.

Her announcement is below, along with a statement from her opponent, Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn).

U.S. Rep. Dave ReichertU.S. News and World Reports confirmed last Friday that former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the failed 2008 Republican presidential candidate, will be hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) in New York. Reichert was an early supporter of Giuliani.

Details have not yet been released, and there is still no word yet on Rudy's asking price for the event, though rumors suggest Hizzoner will be collecting the cash free of charge. A call to Giuliani's office has not yet been returned.