Governor

How many videos do the Democrats have to make showing yet another Dino Rossi event that is closed to the public? At least one more.

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.

Only Rossi himself gets to decide what issues are important, and what questions are worth answering. It looks like Rossi doesn't want to serve the public at all - he only wants to serve himself. Last time we checked, serving yourself and ignoring the people is not a very solid platform when you're running for governor.

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.

A fundraising lunch held yesterday by Michelle Obama on behalf of Governor Chris Gregoire (D-Olympia) raised at least $320,000 for the governor's campaign against Dino Rossi, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported. Added to the figures from the Gregoire campaign's latest filings, the boost would bring the governor's current cash on hand to approximately $4.54 million.

Obama told the crowd of 1,600 that the tight race, a re-match of 2004's close election, was not necessary given Gregoire's record.

"What are you all thinking? This should be over." the P-I quoted Obama as saying. “Don't change a thing, it's not broken”

Dino Rossi is up in the polls, and Darcy Burner had a great fundraising quarter, making them two of this week's winners. Find out who else made the list of Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE

Washington is trade-dependent, yet the strongest epithet a campaign can level is that opponents’ money comes from out-of-state? We should get over our provincialism and take that money all the way to the in-state bank.