Richard Tafoya
Jun 27th, 2008, 04:23 PM
TPM:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/gop_candidates_republicans_who.php
We knew the Republican brand is in trouble, but this is just ridiculous. Two statewide Republican candidates in this year's elections in Washington state are choosing (http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/2008/06/fox_news_on_republicans_shying_away_from_party_brand.html) to run without that pesky R-word next to their names.
This was made possible by the recent adoption of a new electoral system for the state, known as "Top-Two." All candidates will run on the same ballot, and the top two will go to a runoff election, regardless of party. The tricky part is that each candidate will get to choose the party label next to their name.
All of this means a Republican can list himself as something else -- and one of the two candidates even acknowledged to us that he's doing so precisely because he knows the GOP brand is lethal.
Dino Rossi, the 2004 Republican nominee for governor, is choosing to run as "GOP Party" for his second try. Then there's Curt Fackler, the county Republican chairman in their stronghold area of Spokane County -- he's running for insurance commissioner as an independent, or "No Party Preference"!
So do they think the Republican brand is a drag on their electoral chances? "You know, I really do," Fackler told Election Central over the phone. "Unfortunately, in the urban areas of Seattle, I think at least 30% or 40% will not vote for a Republican. It doesn't matter who they are."
Officials at the Rossi campaign and the state Republican headquarters did not return our requests for comment.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/gop_candidates_republicans_who.php
We knew the Republican brand is in trouble, but this is just ridiculous. Two statewide Republican candidates in this year's elections in Washington state are choosing (http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/2008/06/fox_news_on_republicans_shying_away_from_party_brand.html) to run without that pesky R-word next to their names.
This was made possible by the recent adoption of a new electoral system for the state, known as "Top-Two." All candidates will run on the same ballot, and the top two will go to a runoff election, regardless of party. The tricky part is that each candidate will get to choose the party label next to their name.
All of this means a Republican can list himself as something else -- and one of the two candidates even acknowledged to us that he's doing so precisely because he knows the GOP brand is lethal.
Dino Rossi, the 2004 Republican nominee for governor, is choosing to run as "GOP Party" for his second try. Then there's Curt Fackler, the county Republican chairman in their stronghold area of Spokane County -- he's running for insurance commissioner as an independent, or "No Party Preference"!
So do they think the Republican brand is a drag on their electoral chances? "You know, I really do," Fackler told Election Central over the phone. "Unfortunately, in the urban areas of Seattle, I think at least 30% or 40% will not vote for a Republican. It doesn't matter who they are."
Officials at the Rossi campaign and the state Republican headquarters did not return our requests for comment.