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

To: KLP who wrote (365898)	5/24/2010 8:08:43 PM
From: gamesmistress	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793761

Let's hope third time's a charm: Dino Rossi set to challenge Sen. Patty Murray Former Washington state Sen. Dino Rossi (R) will run against Sen. Patty Murray (D) this year, giving Senate Republicans a top-tier recruit in one of a handful of potential targets left on the campaign map. Rossi was expected to officially announce his bid Wednesday, according several GOP sources. He is widely seen as the strongest potential opponent to Murray, with the Republican bench in the state quite thin. But recently, former NFL player Clint Didier, who has aggressively courted tea party activists, landed the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Rossi, who lost gubernatorial races in 2004 and 2008, has been weighing the race for months -- much to the chagrin of some Republicans who wanted him to make a decision earlier in the cycle. But with his likely entry into the race, Republicans now have a candidate they think will put the race in play this cycle. Even with Palin's endorsement, it will be tough for a candidate like Didier to catch on, especially with the state's unusual top-two primary system. The system allows the top two vote-getters to proceed to the general, regardless of party affiliation. Rossi is among the most popular Republicans in the state. In 2004 and again in 2008, losing to Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) in the closest gubernatorial race in U.S. history. There had been some speculation that Rossi might pursue another bid for governor if Gregoire were to be chosen to replace Supreme Court nominee Elana Kagan as Solicitor General. But state Attorney General Rob McKenna (R), another popular Republican in the state, has long been eyeing the governor's office, and is expected to run for that job in 2012. Murray is no easy out. Elected in 1992 with 54 percent, she was heavily targeted by Senate Republicans in 1998 and 2004 but won with 58 percent and 55 percent respectively. She ended March with nearly $6 million on hand. -- Aaron Blake and Felicia Sonmez voices.washingtonpost.com