WA-08

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.

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).

Darcy BurnerThe Seattle Times is reporting that 8th District Democrat Darcy Burner's Carnation home was severely damaged by fire this morning.

Burner, her husband Mike, son Henry and their dog were not injured in the blaze.

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.

The P-I has a brief profile on little known and late starting candidate Richard Todd (I-Snoqualmie), who is running as an independent for U.S. House in the 8th District against Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn).

Todd is a former engineer and commercial fisherman who wrote a book, Saga of the Polar Star, about his salty journeys that came from a fascination he developed with the commercial crab industray after he moved to Washington in the early 1960s.

See PolitickerWA.com's profile of fellow 8th District challenger Darcy Burner from April here.

George Fearing, 4th District candidate for congress, with his son George: Politicker PhotoWith the end of June rapidly approaching, and with it the time limit for reporting monthly (for state offices) and second quarterly (for congressional races) fundraising figures, candidates across the state have appealed to their supporters for a last-minute surge in contributions to beef up their prospects for the coming home stretch.

On Wednesday night Governor Chris Gregoire sent out an e-mail to supporters asking for $50,000 by month's end. Her letter doubles to show up her new radio ad, and with it the campaign theme that Democrats are being attacked on two fronts, both by the Republican Party and their "special interest lobbyist" backers.

Two congressional candidates, Darcy Burner (D-Carnation) and George Fearing (D-Richland) , also got into the act.

KING-TV and Survey USA conducted polls on two of the state's contested U.S. House races. The polling showed U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) leading Darcy Burner (D-Carnation) in the 8th Congressional District by a count of 51 percent to 45 percent, and in the 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) leads Rick Bart (R-Arlington) 56 percent to 38 percent.

Both polls show a Republican advantage relative to the last election. In 2006 Reichert defeated Burner 51 percent to 48 percent, and Larsen defeated Republican Doug Roulstone 64 percent to 35 percent.