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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (85195)	11/9/2004 9:56:20 PM
From: Neeka	Respond to of 793826

Thanks......that is great news. I remember crossing my fingers during the Gorton/Cantwell race, and it didn't help at all. I might as well consult a fortune teller. We'll know by the 17th.

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (85195)	11/10/2004 1:57:45 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 793826

The Libs in Seattle must be having screaming fits to even "think" that Rossi is this close to winning.... ahhh, poor babies....

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (85195)	11/10/2004 12:00:32 PM
From: Neeka	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793826

Rossi's lead has grown Alan, but don't get the champagne (or beer) out just yet. M Rossi ahead, names team for possible transition By Ralph Thomas Times Olympia Bureau JAMES BRANAMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Dino Rossi talks to reporters outside yesterday because of a power outage at his office, joined by Nina Collier of his transition staff. OLYMPIA — Riding a wave of absentee votes largely from rural and Eastern Washington, Republican Dino Rossi yesterday surged ahead of Democratic Attorney General Christine Gregoire in Washington's nail-biter race for governor. After trailing Gregoire by nearly 9,000 votes at the start of the day, Rossi jumped to a nearly 3,000-vote lead last night. About half of the state's counties tallied about 60,000 ballots yesterday, leaving an estimated 156,000 ballots to count statewide. Nearly all of yesterday's ballot counts took place in counties where Rossi is leading. No ballots were tallied in King County, Gregoire's main stronghold, which estimates it has 46,000 ballots left. While the race remained much too close to call, Rossi yesterday announced his transition team. He said the public needs to know that the eventual winner of the governor's race is prepared to take over. "We don't know if we've won. We don't know if we've lost. We've got to be prepared," Rossi said. State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt called Rossi's announcement "presumptuous." But Gregoire is also making transition plans. She said in a written statement that she would not discuss them publicly until the race is decided "because I don't want to overshadow the ongoing vote count." Rossi is leading in 31 of 39 counties, and about 60 percent of the estimated remaining ballots are in those counties. Still, Berendt yesterday predicted Gregoire will win. He said that's partly because at least half of the outstanding votes are on provisional ballots, which are given to voters when problems or questions arise on Election Day. The biggest pile of provisional ballots is in King County, where Gregoire so far has gotten more than a third of her votes. She leads Rossi by more than 142,000 votes in King County. King County officials estimate today they will count 12,000 more absentee ballots and a large number of the estimated 30,000 provisional ballots that have been verified. Berendt said provisional ballots tend to be cast more often in urban precincts or by college students, factors he thinks favor Democrats. "That's one theory," replied Rossi spokeswoman Mary Lane. "But nobody knows." Prior to yesterday's count, the only other time Rossi had been in front was for a few hours after last Tuesday's election. Gregoire retook the lead after the first tally of absentee votes. Rossi's lead at the end of the day yesterday was just barely over one-tenth of 1 percent. Counties have until next Wednesday to finish counting and certify the election. State law requires a recount if the final difference is less than one-half of 1 percent and less than 2,000 votes. Gregoire, 57, served three terms as attorney general and is trying to become Washington's second woman governor. Rossi, 45, is a commercial real-estate salesman. He spent seven years in the state Senate before stepping down last fall to run for governor. If he holds onto his lead, he would become the first Republican elected governor here since 1980. Rossi said his transition team's main work will be to identify potential agency directors, even if the uncertainty makes it difficult for job candidates to commit. His team includes well-known Republican politicians and business leaders, including former state Sen. Dan McDonald, who would serve as transition budget director, and Safeco Chief Mike McGavick, Microsoft Chief Financial Officer John Connors and Western Wireless Chief Executive Officer John Stanton. J. Vander Stoep, named transition chief of staff, said he was among those who told Rossi that though he needed to get moving, he did risk looking presumptuous if he loses to Gregoire. Rossi said former Republican governors Dan Evans and John Spellman advised that it was important to forge ahead because he couldn't make up for planning time lost during this waiting period. Vander Stoep, a former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, said Gorton commented that the transition work should have started last week. seattletimes.nwsource.com