Washington gubernatorial race

The Washington State Democratic Party released two videos on Wednesday to highlight the differences in the campaign styles of Gov. Chris Gregoire and her opponent Dino Rossi. Specifically, they try to mock the exclusive nature of Rossi's campaign events that are otherwise billed as being open to the public.

In the latest example they show Rossi's campaign, with the help of the Washington State Farm Bureau, roping off an event in East Wenatchee's Hydro Park with yellow caution tape which the Democrats say suggests a police crime scene. To hammer home the point they open and close the video with the theme song to television's "Law & Order". This is the second such video they have released showing Democrats being turned away from Rossi events.

DES MOINES -

Gov. Chris Gregoire embarked on a campaign boat tour this morning to highlight her commitment as governor to cleaning up the Puget Sound. The tour began in Tacoma, then motored north to Des Moines. Later today it will hit Seattle and Edmonds before heading west to Bainbridge Island, Bremerton and Twanoh State Park on the Hood Canal.

More photos from this morning's leg of the tour are below the jump.

Gov. Gregoire speaks alongside Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma at the Thea Foss Waterway: Politicker Photo

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's campaign announced today that Rossi, as of Friday, has surpassed the total amount of money he raised in his 2004 run for governor. Last time around Rossi brought in $6,254 million, and as of Sunday they have $6.28 million. Three and a half months remain in the race.

"It's only July and we have already raised more money than we did the entire 2004 campaign. What's even more impressive is that we have raised this much after only nine months of campaigning," said Rossi spokesperson Jill Strait. "Everywhere we go throughout our state we meet people who are ready for change in Olympia and want a leader who will start fixing some problems. Thank you to everyone who has joined our effort, bringing us one step closer towards victory this November."

The campaign to re-elect Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire is on television with its first official campaign ad of the cycle. The ad, seen below, focuses mainly on economic issues and continues with the campaign's strategy of making President Bush an opposite entity from Gregoire and Washington state.

It touches on local property taxes, namely re-instating the Tim Eyman-backed Initiative 747 this past winter that was overturned by the state Supreme Court, Forbes magazine's ranking of Washington as a top 5 business climate, and the creation of new jobs with an emphasis on a so-called green economy.

Evergreen Progress, the 527 interest group backing Gov. Chris Gregoire and fueled by more than a million dollars mostly from labor unions and the Democratic Governors Association,  is unleashing its second series of ads critical of Republican Dino Rossi's record as a state senator.

The two ads, each one 15 seconds long, mention Rossi's votes against smaller class sizes and against giving veteran teachers raises. Though, as David Postman comments, Rossi's votes on the subjects were echoed by a number of Democrats at the time, including the-Governor Gary Locke.

The latest poll from Portland's Moore Information shows Gov. Chris Gregoire and her Republican challenger Dino Rossi even with 45 percent apiece. The survey was conducted on July 9-10 and sampled 400 registered voters.

Polls have been relatively close throughout the entire campaign, but this is Rossi's best showing since the winter months. The margin of error was +/- 5 percent, and 9 percent said they were undecided.

UPDATE: The P-I is reporting, and the Democrats are insisting, that the poll was paid for by Rossi. Rossi used Moore in 2004, as well, per Mulick.

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.

A new Rasmussen poll shows Gov. Chris Gregoire leading her Republican opponent Dino Rossi by six points, slightly below last month's seven point spread. Gregoire received the support of 49 percent of respondents, while Rossi had the backing of 43 percent.

The same poll saw Gregoire with a 56 percent favorability rating compared with 42 percent unfavorable, slightly better than Rossi's 50 percent favorable and 45 percent unfavorable.

The campaign for Gov. Chris Gregoire held a press conference today with a number of what they called "progressive leaders" from across the state to denounce the BIAW-sponsored billboards that accuse the Seattle area of stealing the 2004 election. The billboards are meant to look just like normal Rossi signs, but are not paid for by the campaign.

The Rossi campaign hit back, too, hinting that the event showed that her re-election was more important to Gregoire than the job of governing. They also knocked the state Democratic Party for their own ads.

UPDATE: The Rossi campaign mistakenly accused Gregoire of taking time to hold a press conference when she was actually in Wenatchee. Full statement below.

Gov. Chris Gregoire held a press availability today in Olympia open to the state press corps. She spoke about the Seattle Sonics' departure to Oklahoma City, the state's projected budget deficit and the negative campaigning so far in the gubernatorial race against Republican Dino Rossi. The Tri-City Herald's Chris Mulick has a recap of the events here.

On the Sonics, Gregoire called the notion that she was to blame for them leaving "laughable". She also wished to wait until her own Office of Financial Management analyzes the budget until anyone began to panic about the potential $2.7 Billion deficit, and called the campaign "ugly" so far.